Beryllium [Be] (CAS-ID: 7440-41-7) locate me
An: 4 N: 5 Am: 9.012182 (3)
Group No: 2  Group Name: Alkaline earth metal
Block: s-block  Period: 2
State: solid
Colour: lead grey  Classification: Metallic
Boiling Point: 3243K (2469'C)
Melting Point: 1551K (1287'C)
Density: 1.85g/cm3
Shell Structure diagram | Atomic Radius diagram
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Discovery Information
Who: Fredrich Wohler, A. A. Bussy
When: 1798
Where: Germany/France
Name Origin
From the mineral beryl.
Sources
Found mostly in minerals like beryl and chrysoberyl.
Uses
Its ability to absorb large amounts of heat makes it useful in spacecraft, missiles, aircraft, etc. Emeralds are beryl crystals with chromium traces giving them their green color. Also used in light weight metal alloys, X-ray tube windows, watch springs and sparkless tools.
Beryllium oxide(BeO) is useful for many applications that require an excellent heat conductor, with high strength and hardness, with a very high melting point, and that acts as an electrical insulator.
Beryllium is also used in the making of gyroscopes, various computer equipment, watch springs and instruments where light-weight, rigidity and dimensional stability are needed.
The James Webb Space Telescope, will have 18 hexagonal beryllium sections for its mirrors. Because the JWST will face a temperature of -240 degrees Celsius (30 kelvins), the mirror is made of beryllium, a material capable of handling extreme cold better than glass. Beryllium contracts and deforms less than glass, and thus remains more uniform, in such temperatures.
Notes
The speed of sound in beryllium (12,500m/s) is greater than in any other element.
Beryllium comes from Greek beryllos, beryl. It has also been called Glucinium or Glucinum from the Greek word glykys which means "sweet." Beryllium is found in beryl, chrysoberyl and phenacite. Aquamarine and emeralds are precious forms of beryl. It has a high melting point for a light metal and is more elastic than steel. It is used in computer parts, gyroscopes and for construction. Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with great care. Do not taste it to confirm that it is sweet. Beryllium is a potential occupational carcinogen (lung cancer).
Beryllium and its salts are toxic substances and carcinogenic.
Beryllium is an essential constituent of roughly 100 out of about 4000 known minerals.
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