4

Be

Beryllium
9.012182(3)
 Historical Information

The element was recognised by M.-L. Vauquelin in 1798 in beryl and emeralds. The metal was isolated much later on in 1828 by Friederich Wohler by the action of potassium on BeCl2 in a platinum crucible.
Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Beryllium
  • Symbol: Be
  • Atomic number: 4
  • Atomic weight: 9.012182(3)
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table: 2
  • Group name: Alkaline earth metal
  • Period in periodic table: 2
  • Block in periodic table: s-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 beryllium
Uses Trivia
  • X-ray windows (berllium transmits X-rays 17 times better than aluminiu
  • the oxide is used in the nuclear industry
  • ceramics

Its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of the mineral beryl.