

Combined with protein, beryllium can be deposited in the kidneys, spleen, and liver. Different effects have been associated with beryllium. Toxic exposure occurs most often through inhalation. It should be noted that beryllium is a very toxic metal and exposure to it, which is above the threshold value, may result in berylliosis or acute beryllium disease. Due to their high thermal conductivity, beryllium oxide and beryllium are used in heat sinking applications and heat transport. It is also widely used in experiments in particle physics and for X-ray equipment. Because of its atomic mass and low density, the metal is transparent of ionizing radiation such as X-rays. It is used for space vehicles, missiles, high speed aircraft, and communication satellites. Due to its thermal stability, flexural rigidity, low density, and thermal conductivity, beryllium is used in structural applications, with its qualities making it an aerospace material. This metal is mostly used to harden alloys and specifically beryllium copper.
#Beryllium periodic table free#
In a free state, beryllium is a lightweight, strong, brittle, and steel-grey, alkaline earth metal. It is found in the composition of some noble gemstones, including chrysoberyl and beryl. Learn more about elements on the periodic table.Beryllium (atomic number 4, symbol Be) is a divalent chemical metal which occurs in nature in a combination with different minerals and metals. When bombarded with alpha particles ( helium nuclei), the resulting reaction can produce a high yield of neutrons. Beryllium is used as a target for neutron production.Beryllium is used in nuclear as neutron moderators and reflectors.Beryllium foil is used as the window for x-ray emitters. Beryllium is relatively transparent to x-rays.One early name for beryllium was glyceynum after the Greek word glykis meaning sweet.What does the sample taste like? Today, we know beryllium and its compounds are all extremely toxic and carcinogenic. One standard test for early chemists was a taste test. Beryllium was found to have a sweet taste.Beryls are minerals with chemical formula Be 3Al 2(SiO 3) 6 that come in many different colors. Beryllium was discovered while investigating beryls.Beryllium has the highest melting point of the light metals.These tools are vital in environments where the risk of flames or explosions are high. Beryllium tools are made to prevent sparking when the tool strikes another metal.Beryllium is added to alloys to increase electrical and thermal conductivity.Beryllium is a soft, silvery-white metal with low density.It decays into 10B by β- decay with a half-life 1.36 million years. It contains 5 neutrons and is stable.īeryllium-10 is a radioactive isotope containing 6 neutrons. Its half-life is 53.12 days.īeryllium-9 is the most common natural isotope. It decays into 7Li through electron capture. Two other isotopes can be found in trace amounts.īeryllium-7 is a radioactive isotope containing 3 neutrons. He named the element beryllium after the Greek word beryllos for beryl.īeryllium is nearly 100% beryllium-9. He first named the substance Earth of beryl, but switched to glucenum to reflect the sweet taste. Wöhler proposed changing the name from the taste property since there are many elements with a sweet taste. Name Origin: Vauquelin named his element after the substance he was investigating, beryl. Pure beryllium was first isolated in 1828 by German chemist Friederich Wöhler and French chemist Antoine Bussy independently from each other. He isolated a compound containing an unknown element with a sweet taste. Beryls come in a wide variety of colors, but seem to have similar chemical attributes. Vauquelin was investigating the chemical properties of beryls.

Electron Configuration: 2s 2 (shorthand) or 1s 22s 2 (full)ĭiscovery: Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin in 1798.
