Manganese is a brittle, silvery transition metal with a melting point of 1246 degrees Celsius. It is the second most common transition metal present in Earth's crust (Iron is the most common). It has oxidation states of 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, and +7.  It was first isolated in 1774 by Johan Gottlieb Gahn.

Manganese is used as a component of stainless steel. It is also an essential micro nutrient for us to have. It can be used as a black pigment in paint to to remove the green tint from glass.