Beryllium

Beryllium is often mislabled as a metal because it does not lie on the semi-metal line, though it has the classic characteristics of a semi-metal. The reason it doesn't lie on the line dividing metals from non-metals is because the d-block is placed between it and the semi-metal line. Beryllium is steel-grey in color and is found in Group IIa, also known as the alkaline-earth metals. It was discovered in the oxide form BeO by a scientist named Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin. It's oxidation number is +2. Beryllium is an anomaly in such compounds as beryllium oxide (BeO) and beryllium fluoride (BeF₂) because it does not obey the octet-duet rule, and contains only 4 valence electrons.

Beryllium is used as a low-percentage component of hard alloys. It is found in structural, thermal and nuclear applications.

(From the Latin beryllus, "beryl") A hard, silver-white, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, found only in combination with others. It forms strong, hard, lightweight alloys with several metals that are used for springs; electrical contacts; in X-ray lithography; and as structural material for high performance aircraft, missiles, spacecraft (such as in the U.S. space shuttle), and satellites. Beryllium is also used as a moderator or reflector in nuclear reactors. It is found mostly in minerals like beryl and chrysoberyl.

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Be*ryl"li*um (), n. [NL.] Chem.

A metallic element found in the beryl. See Glucinum.

© Webster 1913.