Beryllium

4
Be
Group
2
Period
2
Block
s
Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
4
4
5
General Properties
Atomic Number
4
Atomic Weight
9.012182
Mass Number
9
Category
Alkaline earth metals
Color
Slate Gray
Radioactive
No
From the Greek word beryllos, beryl
Crystal Structure
Simple Hexagonal
History
Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin discovered beryllium in the oxide form in both beryl and emeralds in 1798.

Friedrich Wöhler and Antoine Bussy independently isolated beryllium in 1828 by the chemical reaction of metallic potassium with beryllium chloride.

The first commercially-successful process for producing beryllium was developed in 1932 by Alfred Stock and Hans Goldschmidt.
Electrons per shell
2, 2
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s2
Be
Emerald is a naturally occurring compound of beryllium
Physical Properties
Phase
Solid
Density
1.85 g/cm3
Melting Point
1560.15 K | 1287 °C | 2348.6 °F
Boiling Point
2742.15 K | 2469 °C | 4476.2 °F
Heat of Fusion
7.95 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization
297 kJ/mol
Specific Heat Capacity
1.825 J/g·K
Abundance in Earth's crust
0.00019%
Abundance in Universe
1×10-7%
Pure
Image Credits: Images-of-elements
Pure beryllium bead, 2.5 grams
CAS Number
7440-41-7
PubChem CID Number
5460467
Atomic Properties
Atomic Radius
112 pm
Covalent Radius
96 pm
Electronegativity
1.57 (Pauling scale)
Ionization Potential
9.3227 eV
Atomic Volume
4.9 cm3/mol
Thermal Conductivity
2.01 W/cm·K
Oxidation States
1, 2
Applications
Beryllium is used in nuclear reactors as a reflector or moderator.

Beryllium metal is used for lightweight structural components in the defense and aerospace industries in high-speed aircraft, guided missiles, space vehicles and satellites.

Unlike most metals, beryllium is virtually transparent to x-rays and hence it is used in radiation windows for x-ray tubes.
Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with the greatest of care
Isotopes
Stable Isotopes
9Be
Unstable Isotopes
5Be, 6Be, 7Be, 8Be, 10Be, 11Be, 12Be, 13Be, 14Be, 15Be, 16Be