Man′ga‐nese″ (?), n. [F. manganèse, It. manganese, sasso magnesio; prob. corrupted from L. magnes, because of its resemblance to the magnet. See Magnet, and cf. Magnesia.] (Chem.) An element obtained by reduction of its oxide, as a hard, grayish white metal, fusible with difficulty, but easily oxidized. Its ores occur abundantly in nature as the minerals pyrolusite, manganite, etc. Symbol Mn. Atomic weight 54.8.
☞ An alloy of manganese with iron (called ferromanganese) is used to increase the density and hardness of steel.
Black oxide of manganese, Manganese dioxide or peroxide, orBlack manganese(Chem.), a heavy black powder MnO2, occurring native as the mineral pyrolusite, and valuable as a strong oxidizer; — called also familiarly manganese. It colors glass violet, and is used as a decolorizer to remove the green tint of impure glass. — Manganese bronze, an alloy made by adding from one to two per cent of manganese to the copper and zinc used in brass.