Which of the following is the chemical symbol for magnesium?

• A. M
• B. Mg
• C. Mn
• D. Ma

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical symbols are one- or two-letter abbreviations derived from the element's name, usually in English or Latin.
2. Recall that magnesium is an alkaline earth metal with the atomic number 12.
3. Know that the correct chemical symbol for magnesium is 'Mg', where 'M' is uppercase and 'g' is lowercase.
4. Recognize that 'M' alone is not a valid symbol for magnesium; it could be confused with other elements or is simply incomplete.
5. Note that 'Mn' is the symbol for manganese, a different element, and 'Ma' is not a valid chemical symbol for any element.