Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does magnesium help plants carry out photosynthesis?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Diagram illustrating Earth's environmental spheres, with labeled sections showing the geosphere (land and crust), biosphere (living things), atmosphere (air), and hydrosphere (water), each extending vertically from the Earth's surface. — Biosphere Earth's environment includes the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, and the biosphere.

Magnesium is an essential component of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that is necessary for photosynthesis.1

Within the chlorophyll molecule, a magnesium atom sits at the center of a complex, nitrogen-containing ring structure known as a porphyrin ring. This specific arrangement allows chlorophyll to capture light energy, which then drives the chemical conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. By enabling this energy conversion, magnesium plays a fundamental role in supporting nearly all living processes.12