Beryllium is a chemical element with the symbol Be and atomic number 4.
In the periodic table, it is the first representative of the alkaline earth
metals. The name beryllium comes from the Greek ¦Âή¦Ñ¦Ô¦Ë¦Ë¦Ïς (beryllos) which meant
aquamarine or emerald.
A bivalent element, beryllium is an alkaline earth metal with a steel gray
appearance. It is light, fragile and toxic.
Beryllium has the highest melting point of all light metals. It is fragile, but
lighter and six times stronger than aluminum.
Its ductility is approximately one third greater than that of steel. It has
excellent thermal conductivity, is non-magnetic and is resistant to concentrated
nitric acid.
It is highly permeable to X-rays, and releases neutrons when it is struck by
alpha particles, such as those emitted by radium or polonium.
Under normal temperature and pressure conditions, beryllium resists oxidation
when exposed to air. A thin layer of oxide is formed which gives it its ability
to scratch the glass.
In nature, it is mainly found in the form of complex oxides or aluminosilicates
called beryls, the most well-known precious representatives of which are emerald
and aquamarine. It is exploited from around thirty ores (especially bertrandite
and beryl). The main mines in the world are in the United States, China and
Mozambique. None are open in Europe.
Uses
Beryllium is used in many fields, which led to mentioning it in the list of 27
critical mineral raw materials, but because of its toxicity (see below) it is,
where possible, replaced by substitute materials.
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rhenium germanium zirconium cadmium hafnium
barium lithium beryllium strontium calcium
Tantalum gadolinium samarium yttrium ytterbium
Lutetium praseodymium holmium erbium thulium dysprosium
terbium europium lanthanum cerium neodymium scandium
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