BERYLLIUMAtomic # 4

By: Tara Lay

The History of Beryllium

The name of the chemical element beryllium is derived from the Greek word beryllos= pale. From the mineral beryl

In 1798 Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin, a French chemist, discovered that an unknown element was present in emeralds and beryl.

Beryllium was first found in emeralds from the mountains of France and California.

The Properties of Beryllium

Beryllium is a solid at room temperature with the density of 1.85 g/cm3

Color: gray. Melting point: 1278 °C Boiling point: 2970.0 °C It is also required in those

applications where an excellent head conductor, with high strength and hardness and with a very high melting point is needed. Even it should act as an electrical insulator.

The Availability of Beryllium

Beryllium is found in approximately 30 mineral species, including beryl (3BeO Al2O3 6SiO2), bertrandite (4BeO 2SiO2 H2O), chrysoberyl, and phenacite. The metal may be prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal.

Beryllium is widely used in spite of its relatively high cost of over $400 per pound because for certain critical applications it performs better than alternatives.

Scientists know that the current exposure limit for beryllium set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of 2 micrograms of airborne beryllium per cubic meter of air per 8-hour day leaves a significant percentage of workers, at risk.

Simply reducing current exposure limits may not reduce the number of workers stricken with chronic beryllium disease (CBD), which results in death in about 30% of sufferers.

The Uses of Beryllium Beryllium is relatively

transparent to X-rays and is used to make windows for X-ray tubes. When exposed to alpha particles, such as those emitted by radium or polonium, beryllium emits neutrons and is used as a neutron source. Beryllium is also used as a moderator in nuclear reactors

Used in spacecraft, missiles, aircraft

In the making of gyroscopes, various computer equipment, watch springs and instruments that requires light-weight, rigidity and dimensional stability.

Beryllium is alloyed with copper (2% beryllium, 98% copper) to form a wear resistant material, known as beryllium bronze, used in gyroscopes and other devices where wear resistance is important.

Beryllium is alloyed with nickel (2% beryllium, 98% nickel) to make springs, spot-welding electrodes and non-sparking tools.

Other beryllium alloys are used in the windshield, brake disks and other structural components of the space shuttle.

Other Information

Beryllium and its compounds are toxic and should not be tasted to verify the metal's sweetness.

Beryllium metal is extremely stiff and lightweight and has a modulus of elasticity almost 50 percent greater than that of steel with only about one-fourth the weight

Beryllium has one of the highest melting points of the light metals

 "It's Elemental - The Element Beryllium." Science Education at Jefferson Lab. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele004.html>.

Bibliography

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"Beryllium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements." Chemistry - Periodic Table, Chemistry Projects, and Chemistry Homework Help. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/beryllium.htm>.

"Understanding Beryllium." American Machinist. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.americanmachinist.com/304/Issue/Article/False/21682/Issue>.

"TOXIC BERYLLIUM: New Solutions for a Chronic Problem | Environmental Health Perspectives | Find Articles." Find Articles | News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_2_109/ai_77276621/>.