1
Beryllium is a pale grey metal that is rare due to being formed only during the
supernova of stars, an event that lasts but a few moments of the average star’s
few billion years lifespan.
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An innocuous-looking earth metal, its fumes are toxic, causing a lung condition
known as berylliosis, inflammation of the lungs and shortness of breath. Beryllium
poisoning was common amongst workers who were exposed to beryllium alloy. The occurrence
of this disease as workers coated fluorescent lamps with beryllium oxide in the
1950s, marked the beginning of stringent protective clothing.
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| Beryllium's Properties |
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So, What is Beryllium?
Atomic
number: 4
Atomic
weight 9.012182
State:
silvery white metal
Category:
Alkaline earth metal
Melting
point: 1,287°C (2,349°F)
Boiling
point: 2,569°C (4,476°F)
Facts
about Beryllium Copper and Other Beryllium Alloys
4
Beryllium is a strong, brittle metal that provides extra strength when added to
different metals, such as copper, nickel and iron. Beryllium dampens the emission
of sparks when metal strikes metal within an environment containing flammable substances.
This makes the resultant alloy safer to work with.
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Beryllium is also alloyed with aluminum for aircraft hulls, missile components
and spacecraft. Beryllium’s attributes are that is lightweight, strong, non-corrosive
and has a high melting point.
When
the Neutron was Discovered
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The discovery of the neutron was due to beryllium. It has an unusual feature of
reflecting neutrons. Up to the 1920s, physicists knew that the nuclei of atoms
contained another mysterious particle other than positively-charged protons. It
was Sir James Chadwick who identified what this particle was after bombarding
beryllium with alpha rays from radium. The discovery of the neutron earned him
the Nobel Prize in 1935.
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Beryllium’s tendency to emit neutrons is one of the reasons it is used in
nuclear technology. The nuclear reaction within uranium is triggered by the to-ing
and fro-ing of neutrons within the warhead of the nuclear missile.
8
X-rays pass through beryllium very easily, almost as though it is not there.
For this reason, beryllium is typically used as a screen in x-ray equipment and
incidentally, experiments with particle physics.
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| Beryllium's Symbol |
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Emerald and aquamarine, precious types of beryl were prized in ancient Egyptian
times. But it wasn’t until 1828 that chemists A Bussy and Friedrich Wöhler isolated
beryllium from the beryl.
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Beryllium’s sweet taste earned it the previous label of glucinum. Unfortunately,
those that ventured to sample this toxic earth metal did so at their peril, as
beryllium should never be ingested or inhaled.
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Beryllium is seldom found in its pure state but as a composite of ores and
rocks. It has to be extracted to be used.
12
Beryllium is non-magnetic. Although useless for compasses, this quality makes beryllium
an invaluable material for electrical components and delicate equipment used in
aircraft and satellites.
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