TOPIC: BERYLLIUM

Md. Ariful Islam

PROPERTIES

• Beryllium is the lightest member of the alkaline earth metals family..

• Beryllium was discovered by French chemist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin.
• SYMBOL: Be.
• ATOMIC NUMBER: 4.
• ATOMIC MASS: 9.012182.
• Beryllium is a hard, brittle metal with a grayish-white surface.
• Its density is 1.8 grams per cubic centimeter.
• Beryllium reacts with acids and with water to form hydrogen gas.
• The metal has a high heat capacity and heat conductivity.
USES
• The greatest use of beryllium metal is in alloys. Beryllium alloys are popular because they are
tough, stiff, and lighter than similar alloys.
• The most popular alloys of beryllium at the present time are those with copper metal.
• They conduct heat and electricity almost as well as pure copper .
• These alloys are used in circuit boards, radar, computers, home appliances, aerospace
applications, automatic systems in factories, automobiles, aircraft landing systems, oil and gas
drilling equipment, and heavy machinery.

HEALTH EFFECTS
Beryllium is a very toxic metal. It is especially dangerous in powder form. Acute effects of inhaling
beryllium powder include pneumonia-like symptoms that can result in death in a short time. Chronic
effects include diseases of the respiratory system (throat and lungs), such as bronchitis and lung
cancer.