The name derives from the Latin magnes for "magnet" since pyrolusite (MnO₂) has magnetic properties. It was discovered by the Swedish pharmacist and chemist Carl-Wilhelm Scheele in 1774. In the same year, the Swedish chemist Johan Gottlieb Gahn first isolated the metal. 

• Properties

  Manganese is a hard, brittle, silvery-gray metal that's difficult to melt but easily oxidized. It's reactive when pure, and as a powder it will burn in oxygen. 

   
• Abundance

  Manganese is the fifth most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, second only to iron among transition elements. 

   
• Uses

  Manganese is used in many alloys, including steel, glass, and aluminum. It's also used in dry cell batteries and as a black-brown pigment in paint. 

   
• Biological role

  Manganese is an essential trace element for living creatures, including humans. The human body contains about twelve grams of manganese, mostly found in bones. Manganese is a cofactor for several enzymes involved in bone formation. 

   
• Other facts

  Manganese tarnishes slowly in air and oxidizes ("rusts") like iron in water containing dissolved oxygen. 

   
• Melting point

  Manganese's melting point is 1246°C. 

@Myr the science wizard. 

Just the facts:

Manganese Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster