Underestimated companion of iron,
Manganese is important as metal and as ion.
Even as oxide I would insist,
believe me, Manganese would be missed.

It was important before it was detected,
for example steel in the antique was affected.
The famous Ferrum Noricum was superior,
the Manganese content was simply more.

As glassmakers‘ soap, the oxide was used,
as colour changer introduced.
Already in ancient Egypt a standard material,
so from the start of civilization, Manganese gave all.

Kaim and Glauber, the first chemists, skilled in their art,
identified the most important Permanganate.
An important oxidizing reagent,
which colours everything violet, for that it was not meant.

Scheele assumed in those minerals a new candidate,
but this time, in the discovery he had a minor part.
Johan Gottlieb Gahn, a Swedish metallurgist is given credit,
as with carbon and the oxide, he carbothermal made it.

A new metal was identified,
but pure, scientists have not been satisfied.
Grey and brittle, beyond expectation,
but as teamplayer, it is able for full potential realisation.

Its natural affection to iron improves steel,
as manganese steel is an own category the impact is real.
In the ferrous powder metallurgy,
Manganese has its own significancy.

Usually Nickel and Copper are more desired,
but sometimes cheap performance is required.
Andrej Šalak was a pioneer,
he dedicated to Manganese his whole career.

Manganese has a low vapour pressure,
and the resistance against oxidation compared to iron is lesser.
Metallothermal reduction, gas phase alloying,
I admit, sometimes the vapour is annoying.

But if you do things right,
against those costly elements, Manganese has an easy fight.
So it is an alloying element for sure,
but it is required in human biological nature.

Most of it you find in bone,
multiple functions have been shown,
bone matrix formation, anti-oxidant,
for our skeleton Manganese is significant.

In kidneys it is required,
the liver gets rid of what is undesired.
Most significant it is acting in our brain,
in motorics and the cognitive chain.

The credo, just the right amount needed,
never too less, and never exceeded.
Fundamental for life,
to shine and thrive.

Manganese is a teamplayer,
a strengthener and a protective layer.
It tells us, that in the end,
it is not always necessary to know how is the helping hand.

It does not seek for appreciation,
it seeks for superior creation.
To make the world strong and cognitive,
a nice goal to achieve