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Beryllium is used in nuclear weapons for similar reasons. For example, the critical mass of a plutonium sphere is significantly reduced if the plutonium is surrounded by a beryllium shell.
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Beryllium is sometimes used in neutron sources, in which the beryllium is mixed with an alpha emitter such as 210Po, 226Ra, 239Pu or 241Am.
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Beryllium is also used in the making of gyroscopes, various computer equipment, watch springs and instruments where light-weight, rigidity and dimensional stability are needed.
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Beryllium oxide is useful for many applications that require an excellent heat conductor, with high strength and hardness, with a very high melting point, and that acts as an electrical insulator.
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Beryllium compounds were once used in fluorescent lighting tubes, but this use was discontinued because of berylliosis in the workers manufacturing the tubes.
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The James Webb Space Telescope[3] will have 18 hexagonal beryllium sections for its mirrors. Because JWST will face a temperature of −240 degrees Celsius (30 kelvins), the mirror is made of beryllium, a material capable of handling extreme cold better than glass. Beryllium contracts and deforms less than glass — and thus remains more uniform — in such temperatures. For the same reason, the optics of the Spitzer Space Telescope are entirely built of beryllium.
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Beryllium is also used in the Joint European Torus fusion research facility, to condition the plasma facing components
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Beryllium has also been used in tweeter construction by the company Focal-JMlab on its flagship Utopia Be series as an alternative to titanium and aluminium, largely due to its lower density and greater rigidity.
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Because of its low atomic number beryllium is almost transparent to energetic electrically charged particles. Therefore it is used to build the beam pipe around the collision region in collider particle physics experiments. Notably all four main experiment at the Large Hadron Collider accelerator (ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, LHCb) use a beryllium beam-pipe.
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Isotopeshttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ty_Proxies.png Plot showing variations in solar activity, including variation in 10Be concentration.
Of beryllium's <A title=Isotope href="http://bibleocean.com/OmniDefinition/Isotope">isotopes, only 9Be is stable. Cosmogenic 10Be is produced in the atmosphere by cosmic ray spallation of oxygen and nitrogen. Because beryllium tends to exist in solution at pH levels less than about 5.5 (and most rainwater has a pH less than 5), it will enter into solution and be transported to the Earth's surface via rainwater. As the precipitation quickly becomes more alkaline, beryllium drops out of solution. Cosmogenic 10Be thereby accumulates at the soil surface, where its relatively long half-life (1.51 million years) permits a long residence time before decaying to 10B. 10Be and its daughter products have been used to examine soil erosion, soil formation from regolith, the development of lateritic soils, as well as variations in solar activity and the age of ice cores.The fact that 7Be and 8Be are unstable has profound cosmological consequences as it means that elements heavier than beryllium could not be produced by nuclear fusion in the Big Bang. Moreover, the nuclear energy levels of 8Be are such that carbon can be produced within stars, thus making life possible. (See triple-alpha process and Big Bang nucleosynthesis).The shortest-lived known isotope of beryllium is 13Be which decays through neutron emission. It has a half-life of 2.7 × 10-21 seconds. 6Be also is also very short-lived with a half-life of 5.0 × 10-21 seconds.The exotics 11Be and 14Be are known to exhibit a nuclear halo. |
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...oil_square.jpg A square beryllium foil mounted in a steel case to be used as a window between a vacuum chamber and an <A title=\"X-ray microscope\" href="http://bibleocean.com/OmniDefinition/X-ray_microscope">X-ray microscope. Beryllium, due to its low Z number is highly transparent to X-rays.
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Some people (1-15%) become sensitive to beryllium. These individuals may develop an inflammatory reaction that principally targets the respiratory system and skin. This condition is called chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and can occur within a few months or many years after exposure to higher than normal levels of beryllium (greater than 0.02 µg/mł). This disease causes fatigue, weakness, night sweats and can cause difficulty in breathing and a persistent dry cough. It can result in anorexia, weight loss, and may also lead to right-side heart enlargement and heart disease in advanced cases. Some people who are sensitized to beryllium may not have any symptoms. The disease is treatable but not curable. CBD occurs when the body's immune system recognizes beryllium particles as foreign material and mounts an immune system attack against the particles. Because these particles are typically inhaled into the lungs, the lungs becomes the major site where the immune system responds. The lungs become inflamed, filled with large numbers of white blood cells that accumulate wherever beryllium particles are found. The cells form balls around the beryllium particles called "granulomas." When enough of these granulomas develop, they interfere with the normal function of the organ. Over time, the lungs become stiff and lose their ability to help transfer oxygen from the air into the bloodstream. Patients with CBD develop difficulty inhaling and exhaling sufficient amounts of air and the amount of oxygen in their bloodstreams falls. Treatment of such patients includes use of oxygen and medicines that try to suppress the immune system's over-reaction to beryllium. A class of immunosuppressive medicines called glucocorticoids (example: prednisone), is most commonly used as treatment. The general population is unlikely to develop acute or chronic beryllium disease because ambient air levels of beryllium are normally very low (0.00003-0.0002 µg/mł).
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This is a reflected light micrograph of polished, carbon coated beryllium wire. The identifying etched label, which is a feature of our standards, is invaluable for navigating in an electron beam instrument. |
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Beryllium x-ray lenses X-ray optics has become a widely applied field for researchers using X-rays delivered from synchrotron light sources for their various experiments. Existing optical devices are of the type of X-ray mirrors, tapered capillaries or Fresnel zone plates. Refractive lenses, however, like in the visible light optics, were not available in the past. The refraction coefficient and the low absorption for x-rays make Beryllium an ideal candidate for refractive lenses. |
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Beryllium copper washers, what every geek needs. |
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Beryllium's cellular assault Researchers at the Laboratory, seeking to better understand the pathology of chronic beryllium disease are studying the fundamental properties of metal interaction with carboxylate molecules, carbon/oxygen structures that are common in the body, to better understand how metals, specifically beryllium in water solution, might attack human cells. |
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Beryllium je desetinásobně dražší než zlato a zpracovat ho dokáže jen několik specializovaných firem. Focal při konstrukci šasi Electra Be využívá osvědčenou formu inverzní kaloty, kterou poprvé představil v roce 1982, a neodymový magnet. Průměr inverzní kaloty je 25 mm. Celý vysokotónový systém je k ozvučnici připevněn pomocí masivního hliníkového panelu, v čelní části výrazně zaobleného, což zamezuje nežádoucím difrakcím (odrazu zvukových vln od hran) a přispívá k holografické prostorovosti zvukového obrazu. :shrug: |
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Beryllium is a light gray metal discovered by Nicholas Louis Vauquelin in 1797. This metal has four protons, and 5 neutrons. Beryllium is used in space shuttles, missiles, communications satellites, and X-ray tubes. It is the forth atom on the Periodic Table of Elements, and is also used in the nuclear industry. The early Egyptians used beryllium alloys and Emeralds for showy occasions. |
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Gezondheidseffecten van Beryllium Beryllium is geen element dat cruciaal is voor mensen; in feite is het een van de meest giftige chemicaliën die we kennen. Het is een metaal dat heel gevaarlijk is als mensen het inademen, omdat het de longen kan beschadigen en longontsteking kan veroorzaken. Het meest bekende effect van beryllium wordt berylliosis genoemd, een gevaarlijke en hardnekkige longziekte die ook andere organen, zoals het hart kan beschadigen. 20% van alle mensen die deze ziekte krijgen, sterven er ook aan. Het inademen van beryllium op de werkplaats veroorzaakt berylliosis. Mensen die een verzwakt immuunsysteem hebben, zijn zeer vatbaar voor deze ziekte. :hmmm: |
jackpot
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good sign
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Policy Analysis and Clinical Research on Occupational Beryllium Exposure at DOE Sites R A Ponce T K Takaro S M Bartell A J Jabbour K Ertell J Abbotts S Barnhart and E M Faustman Worker Safety and CRESP and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA This research supported in part by CRESP through the Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement #DE-FC01-95EW55084. This support does not constitute endorsement of views expressed. Introduction The US Department of Energy has used beryllium in nuclear materials production, reactor rod fabrication, nuclear vessel cladding and many other uses since the 1940s. The industrial use of beryllium was found to result in an acute respiratory disease, acute beryllium disease, leading the Atomic Energy Commission to establish an airborne concentration standard of 2 µg/m3 for the workplace based on then accepted standards for other metals. Adoption of this standard has effectively eliminated the presence of acute beryllium disease. However, epidemiologic studies carried out during the 1980-90s has revealed the presence of another form of lung disease, chronic beryllium disease (CBD), among workers at US DOE sites. In 1997, the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP) began a series of research efforts to investigate the prevalence of CBD among former beryllium workers at Hanford, evaluation of alternatives to the current screening tools for identifying pre-clinical disease, and policy implications of alternative occupational health program designs to reduce disease incidence among future beryllium workers, such as those involved in decontamination and decommissioning former beryllium facilities. This poster describes the scope of CRESP beryllium research efforts and the implications of this research to beryllium workers at US DOE sites. |
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Orange rim surrounding a pink core in a beryllium-treated orange sapphire from Madagascar. The color rim is visible when the gem is immersed in di-iodomethane and is evidence of a treatment. In stones where the beryllium penetrates all the way through the gem, detection is extremely difficult without sophisticated chemical analysis. Just a few parts per million of beryllium can alter the color of a gem. LIBS promises to dramatically reduce the cost of unmasking this treatment. (Photo: Richard Hughes/Pala International |
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/eleme...04_orbital.gifhttp://www.chem4kids.com/files/eleme.../004_elect.gif
Each of those colored balls is an electron. In an atom, the electrons spin around the center, also called the nucleus. The electrons like to be in separate shells. Shell number one can only hold 2 electrons, shell two can hold 8, and for the first eighteen elements shell three can hold a maximum of eight electrons. As you learn about elements with more than eighteen electrons you will find that shell three can hold more than eight. Once one shell is full, the next electron that is added has to move to the next shell. So... for the element of BERYLLIUM, you already know that the atomic number tells you the number of electrons. That means there are 4 electrons in a beryllium atom. Looking at the picture, you can see there are two electrons in shell one and two in shell two. |
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http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/fs/73-98/fig1th.gifBeryllium-77Be is a naturally produced radioisotope that is formed by cosmic ray bombardment of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O). It is transferred through precipitation from the atmosphere to earth. Beryllium is a highly reactive element and becomes rapidly and tightly associated with a sedimentary substrate. 7Be has a half-life of 53 days, which makes its effective range of applicability for dating sediment about 1 year. Thus, detection of its presence is a reliable indicator that the substance was in contact with the atmosphere within the past year. This information is important, as it is used to calibrate other isotope-based geochronometers and define sedimentary sinks.
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http://www.americanmachinist.com/Con...0000011825.jpg Stiffness and light weight of AlBeMet aluminum-beryllium alloy (top) from Brush Wellman makes it ideal for rotating optics mounts on Apache helicopters. |
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Now we at Chiefsplanet Beryllium search overwatch forium have beryllium videos too!! |
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Beryl, a beryllium aluminium silicate, is a common mineral but its gem varieties are highly prized. Emerald is the green variety of beryl, colored by impurities of chromium and vanadium. Today most noted emeralds originate in Colombia but ancient emeralds all came from mines south of El Kassir in Nubia, which were worked from approximately 3000BC. Cleopatra was reputed to have had a Nubian emerald engraved with her own portrait. This specimen is from the Russian Urals. Source: Mackay mineral collection Size: 1.25" Purity: 5% |
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A light, silver-white, lustrous metal that is resistant to corrosion but very toxic, especially when breathed in as a powder. |
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Lumps. These are lovely solid lumps of beryllium metal, probably produced by dropping molten Be into water. They are free of dust and very hard which is good from a safety point of view as any powder which might be breathed in must be strictly avoided. They feel incredibly light and make a nice clinking noise when hit together. Source: China Size:pieces 1" to 2" Purity:> 98% Fergie from the Black Eye Peas would be proud of these beryllium lumps, they're so lovely. |
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High voltage insulator. Beryllium oxide, also known as beryllia, has a very high melting point and is an excellent electrical insulator, Surprisingly though it is very good conductor of heat, almost on a par with some metals. These are useful properties which in this case are deployed in a high voltage electrical insulator. There is a label on the device warning that it should not be machined or broken due to the potential toxicity of the dust.. |
Studies in 2003 found the soil and groundwater had been contaminated with uranium, apparently a radioactive byproduct of decades of chemical processing of copper, the agency said. The mine also is polluted with arsenic, beryllium, lead, mercury and selenium.
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Mountain Hardwear Beryllium Jacket - Men's FREE SHIPPING - The Mountain Hardwear Men's Beryllium Jacket...
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Mountain Hardwear® Men's GORE-TEX® XCR Beryllium Jacket Designed to withstand the rigors of technical ice and...
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Premier integrated global producer of beryllium-based metals.
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beryllium
ADVERTISEMENT var y_inf_type = "LREC" ; var y_inf_url = "http://" + "us.inf.ads.yahoo.com" + "/infinity?" + "s=ysm&t=bt2&p=network&pos=LREC&catid=687&tcatid=506&cid=i1_lrec_oc2" + "&f=97302355" + "&pvid=Oe6rr86.OK6TrtPERbom7OKYSxhQDkW6VfsAC8PD" + "&w=AD38BECE" ; var y_inf_hostname = "us.inf.ads.yahoo.com" ; var y_inf_rd = "" ; var y_inf_width = "300" ; var y_inf_height = "250" ; var y_inf_flashpath = "http://us.a2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/a/1-/flash/infinity/ysm/i1_lrec_oc2.swf" ; var y_inf_defaultclickurl = "http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/srch.php?o=US1671&cmp=Yahoo_banners&ctv=CTrees_300x250&s=Y&s2=NO&s3=B&b=25" ; var y_inf_defaultimgsrc = "http://us.a2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/a/ya/yahoo_overture/1071-tree_lrec_300x250_122805.jpg" ; var y_inf_defaultimgwidth = "300" ; var y_inf_defaultimgheight = "250" ; on error resume next infinity_flashinstalled=( IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"))) if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("");if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=Oe6rr86.OK6TrtPERbom7OKYSxhQDkW6VfsAC8PD&T=142vv8tse%2fX%3d1169839611%2fE%3d97302355%2fR%3dedu%2f K%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d422940766%2fG%3dCnVzCgo-%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dAD38BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=13b49f9bb%2fN%3dKti6Adj8a3c-%2fC%3d549852.10006488.10690741.1414694%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4367588');}http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=Oe6rr86.O...%2fB%3d4367588 (bhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/...hd/s/schwa.gifrĭl´ēhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/...hd/s/schwa.gifm) [from beryl ], metallic chemical element; symbol Be; at. no. 4; at. wt. 9.01218; m.p. about 1,278°C; b.p. 2,970°C (estimated); sp. gr. 1.85 at 20°C; valence +2. Beryllium is a strong, extremely light, high-melting, silver-gray metal with a close-packed hexagonal crystalline structure. It is an alkaline-earth metal in group IIa of the periodic table. Beryllium is resistant to corrosion; weight for weight, it is stronger than steel, and because of its low density (about 1/3 that of aluminum) it has found extensive use in the aerospace industry. Beryllium is soluble in hot nitric acid, dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, and sodium hydroxide. Like aluminum and magnesium, which it resembles chemically, it readily forms compounds with other elements; it is not found free in nature. However, like aluminum, it is resistant to oxidation in air, even at a red heat; it is thought to form a protective oxide film that prevents further oxidation. The compounds of beryllium are sweet-tasting and highly toxic; this toxicity has limited the use of beryllium as a rocket fuel, even though it yields more heat on combustion for its weight than any other element. Beryllium transmits X rays much better than glass or other metals; this property, together with its high melting point, makes it desirable as a window material for high-intensity X-ray tubes. Because beryllium resists attack by liquid sodium metal, it is employed in cooling systems of nuclear reactors that use liquid sodium as the heat-transfer material; because it is a good reflector and absorber of neutrons, it is also used as a shield and as a moderator in nuclear reactors. The addition of 2% to 3% of beryllium to copper makes a nonmagnetic alloy six times stronger than pure copper. This alloy is used to make nonsparking tools for use in oil refineries and other places where sparks constitute a fire hazard; it is also used for small mechanical parts, such as camera shutters. When beryllium is alloyed with other metals such as aluminum or gold it yields substances with a higher melting point, greater hardness and strength, and lower density than the metal with which it is alloyed. Beryllium aluminum silicates, especially beryl (of which emerald and aquamarine are varieties), constitute the chief sources of the metal. Although its ores occur widely in North America, Europe, and Africa, the cost of extracting the metal limits its commercial use. Beryllium may be prepared by electrolysis of its fused salts; it is prepared commercially by reduction of the fluoride with magnesium metal. Beryllium was discovered in 1798 as the oxide beryllia by L. N. Vauquelin, a French chemist. Vauquelin analyzed beryl and emerald at the urging of R. J. Haüy, a French mineralogist, who had noted that their optical properties were identical. Beryllium was first isolated in 1828 independently by F. Wöhler in Germany and W. Bussy in France by fusing beryllium chloride with metallic potassium. |
It has the highest melting points of the light metals. The modulus of elasticity of beryllium is approximately 1/3 greater than that of steel. It has excellent thermal conductivity, is nonmagnetic and resists attack by concentrated nitric acid. It is highly permeable to X-rays, and neutrons are liberated when it is hit by alpha particles, as from radium or polonium (about 30 neutrons/million alpha particles). At standard temperature and pressures beryllium resists oxidation when exposed to air (although its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide). The speed of sound in beryllium (12,500m/s) is greater than in any other element
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about beryllium. For more information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
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People working or living near beryllium industries have the greatest potential for exposure to beryllium. Lung damage has been observed in people exposed to high levels of beryllium in the air. About 1-15% of all people occupationally-exposed to beryllium in air become sensitive to beryllium and may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD), an irreversible and sometimes fatal scarring of the lungs. CBD may be completely asymptomatic or begin with coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, and/or fatigue. Beryllium has been found in at least 535 of the 1,613 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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Beryllium is a hard, grayish metal naturally found in mineral rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust. Beryllium compounds are commercially mined, and the beryllium is purified for use in nuclear weapons and reactors, aircraft and space vehicle structures, instruments, x-ray machines, and mirrors. Beryllium ores are used to make speciality ceramics for electrical and high-technology applications. Beryllium alloys are used in automobiles, computers, sports equipment (golf clubs and bicycle frames), and dental bridges.
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Beryllium can be measured in the urine and blood. The amount of beryllium in blood or urine may not indicate how much or how recently you were exposed. Beryllium levels can also be measured in lung and skin samples. These tests are not usually available at your doctor's office, but your doctor can send the samples to a laboratory that can perform the tests.Another blood test, the blood beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), identifies beryllium sensitization and has predictive value for CBD.
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Beryllium is a Group 2 (IIA) element. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. 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, [Be3Al2(SiO3)6].
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developed to measure low levels (femtomoles) of beryllium in biological samples. ... macromolecular complexes formed with beryllium at low exposure doses
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Sources, properties, ... Beryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most ... now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal.
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and may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD), an irreversible and ... Beryllium has been found in at least 535 of the 1,613 National Priorities List
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A company in Utah mined bertrandite ore and recovered beryllium hydroxide from ... quoted producer price for beryllium-copper master alloy
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Beryllium is not a metal that is often encountered everyday. Although more abundant in the earth's crust than silver, it is more expensive and difficult to produce. The metal itself is very rarely seen, a grey metal formed mainly by powder metallurgy when used as a metal, but more commonly appears as a minor constituent in alloys. Its name comes from the common mineral beryl, which as emerald and aquamarine is an important gemstone, and its chemical symbol is Be. It is also called glucinium, symbol Gl. Glycium and glycinium have been variant spellings.The oxide was first identified as containing a new element by Haüy (of crystal fame) and Vauquelin in 1797 or 1798 by decomposing beryl. The metal itself was isolated independently by Wöhler and Bussy in 1818, through the reduction of BeCl2 by potassium metal. It was merely a laboratory curiosity until the excellent properties of its alloys with copper were recognized in the 1930's. It was considered a strategic material in World War II because of these alloys.
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Beryllium is a constituent of about 30 identified minerals, but most are rare. The most common beryllium mineral by far is beryl, 3BeO·Al2O3·6SiO2. This is a hard (Mohs 7.5-8.0), relatively light (spgr 2.75-2.80) found in granitic rocks, pegmatites, mica schists and similar environments, occasionally in huge crystals. One crystal was 9 m in length, and weighed 25 tons. Beryl is typically full of inclusions, milky but translucent, and of a greenish color. Clear crystals, which are much smaller but can still be of considerable size, are valuable gemstones. Pure beryl is clear and transparent, but small amounts of impurities color it very attractively. Aquamarine is a fine, pale green-blue, while emerald is deep green due to Cr+++ ion. Because of its color, emerald is the most expensive gemstone, sometimes more costly than diamond. Since the index of refraction of beryl is only 1.580, not much different from that of glass, it does not have the fire or brilliance of diamond and similar gems. However, it is very hard (only corundum, 9, and diamond, 10) are harder. Morganite, a pink to rose beryl, and Golden Beryl, a golden-yellow gem, are less costly than emerald and aquamarine. Usually, the crystals are hand-picked to separate them from the gangue. In ancient times, precious green gems were called smaragdos. This term was applied not only to emerald, but also to malachite.Currently, most beryllium (93% of world output in 2000) comes from a bertrandite deposit in Juab County, Utah, in Spor Mountain. Bertrandite is Be4Si2O7(OH)2, an alteration product of beryl. It forms clear or white orthorhombic crystals with one plane of good cleavage, is hard (6-7) and of moderate weight (sp.gr. 3.3-3.5; one source says 2.6). The concentrate is sent to Ohio for processing.Perhaps the most important beryllium mineral after beryl and bertrandite is chrysoberyl, Be(AlO2)2, which at 8.5 is nearly as hard as corundum. Its crystals are orthorhombic, often occurring in pseudo-hexagonal clusters. When of gem quality, chrysoberyl provides alexandrite, with its amazing dichroism, that makes it red when seen from one direction, green from another, and also cat's eye, with inclusions of rutile (TiO2). Another rare beryllium mineral is euclase, named after its perfect cleavage. Its formula is BeAlSiO4(OH). It is a phyllosilicate (layered, like mica; beryl is a 3D tectosilicate), found in granite pegmatites, often with topaz. Due to its hardness (7.5) and durability, it is also found in placers. It may be clear, green or blue.
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Beryllium crystallizes in the hexagonal close packed structure. It is definitely a metal, but a hard and brittle one. Its electron configuration is 1s22s2, so its compounds can be expected to be electron-poor and somewhat exotic. It is a rather small ion, of radius 0.31Ĺ. Its ionic valence is clearly +2, and this is shown in numerous compounds. The first ionizing potential is 9.28V, greater even than that of magnesium. In the halides, the electron transfer is not by any means complete, and these compounds do not ionize easily. The compounds of beryllium are colorless. Aside from these properties, beryllium behaves similarly to aluminium. It is not much like magnesium, calcium or barium, the other elements called the alkaline earths, except in valence. In fact, it is not very alkaline at all, and its oxide and hydroxide are not even soluble. It is not mentioned in qualtitative analysis texts, since it is encountered very rarely. It probably is separated with the aluminium and must then be distinguished from it by the precipitation of a basic carbonate by adding ammonium carbonate. An excess of reagent dissolves the precipitate. Like aluminum, it forms a protective oxide layer on exposure to air, which makes the surface very hard. Beryllium resists atmospheric corrosion at high temperatures better than titanium or zirconium. Above 600°C, the oxide is first formed, and then the nitride, Be3N2 at 1000°C. Metallic beryllium should not be used at temperatures over 600°C.The specific gravity is 1.85, only slightly greater than that of magnesium (1.74) and considerably less than that of aluminium (2.7). Its hardness is 6.5, melting point 1285°C, boiling point 2780°C. It would be an exellent light, strong structural material for high temperatures if it were not for its brittleness and extreme difficulty of working. Its electrical resistivity is 18.5 μΩ-cm, a relatively low value, making it useful for electrical leads. The thermal expansion coefficient is 12.3 x 10-6 °C-1, heat capacity 0.425 cal/g/°C and heat conductivity 0.3847 cal/s/cm2/°C/cm. The latent heat of fusion is 341 cal/g.As a sintered powder (1000°C, 500 psi), the ultimate strength is 45,000 psi, yield point 25,000 psi, Young's modulus 44 x 106 psi, and Poisson's ratio 0.024 (? this seems a very small value). The high Young's modulus and low density make the speed of sound in beryllium quite large (12,500 m/s). The elongation of a tensile specimen on fracture is only around 2%, so the ductility is low. Impact strength is also low. Hot-pressed beryllium can be succesfully machined and drilled. Beryllium can also be vacuum cast, but it is very difficult to machine the castings. Beryllium can be forged hot if encased in steel, and it can be welded, but must be protected from the air.The alloy 97.75 Cu, 2.25 Be has six times the strength of copper. It is nonsparking (chips do not oxidize readily in air), nonmagnetic, and does not exhibit fatigue failure. Similar alloys may have from 2% to 3% beryllium. This material makes excellent springs, and is a good electrical conductor, since the resistivity of the copper is not raised excessively by the beryllium. Beryllium for alloying is supplied as a 4% alloy with copper, called "master alloy." Since little beryllium is used, its high cost is a minor factor. Be-Al alloys, with up to 65% Be, are also being studied. Phosphor bronze is a substitute for beryllium copper, but is not as serviceable. The Chemical Society's internet periodic table says beryllium is used "to increase the ability to conduct electricity" in copper and nickel, but this is erroneous. Beryllium improves the mechanical properties of the metals, but does not increase the resistivity as much as other alloying elements.Beryllium and its compounds are very poisonous, especially as dusts. When inhaled, they can produce beryllosis, which is like silicosis, and destroys the lungs. Although some people are little affected, others can develop a sensititivity to beryllium called chronic beryllium disease that scars the lungs. Carcinoma can also result from beryllium poisoning. It is chilling to think that glucinium was named because of the sweet taste of its compounds; its poisonous nature was probably verified at the same time. BeO was used as a phosphor in fluorescent lamps, which made broken discarded fluorescent lamps a great hazard. I understand that BeO phosphor is no longer used. This is much more of a hazard than mercury in refuse. Atomic weapons workers are also subject to beryllium poisoning, although great care has been taken to eliminate the hazard. It is easy to blame beryllium for any lung problems that occur with these workers whatever the cause, to the great delight of lawyers. Beryllium copper and similar uses of the metal, or of beryllia, are not hazardous. There is very little beryllium in the environment, and no evidence that trace amounts are dangerous. The EPA limit is 0.01 μg/m3in air, the OSHA limit 2 μg/m3 for an 8-hour shift. Beryllium dust from burning coal is a negligible hazard, because of the very small amounts involved. Because of its low atomic number, beryllium is nearly transparent to X-rays and can be used as windows for X-ray tubes. Currently, the greatest demand for beryllium comes from the telecommunications equipment industry.
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Beryllium - (Gr. beryllos.' beryl; also called Glucinium or Glucinum, Gr. glykys, sweet), Be; at. wt. 9.012182; at no. 4; m.p. 1287'C; b.p. 2471'C; sp. cyr. 1.948 (20'C): valence 2. Discovered as the oxide by Vauquelin in beryl and in emeralds in 1798. The metal was isolated in 1828 by Wobler and by Bussy independently by the action of potassium on beryllium chloride. Beryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most important of which are bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, and phenacite. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of beryl. Beryl (3BeO - Al2O3-6SiO2) and bertrandite (4BeO - 2SiO2- H2O) are the most important commercial sources of the element and its compounds. Most of the metal is now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal. Beryllium metal did not become readily available to industry until 1957. The metal, steel gray in color, has many desirable properties. It is one of the lightest of all metals, and has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. Its modulus of elasticity is about one third greater than that of steel. It resists attack by concentrated nitric acid, has excellent thermal conductivity, and is nonmagnetic. It has a high permeability to X-rays, and when bombarded by alpha particles, as from radium or polonium, neutrons are produced in the ratio of about 30 neutrons/million alpha particles. At ordinary temperatures beryllium resists oxidation in air, although its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide. Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in producing beryllium copper which is extensively used for springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, and nonsparking tools. It has found application as a structural material for high-speed aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and communication satellites. It is being used in the windshield , brake discs, support beams, and other structural components of the space shuttle. Because beryllium is relatively transparent to X-rays, ultra-thin Be-foil is finding use in X-ray lithography for reproduction of microminiature integrated circuits. Natural beryllium is made of 9Be and is stable. Eight other radioactive isotopes are known. Beryllium is used in nuclear reactors as a reflector or moderator for it has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section. It is used in gyroscopes, computerparts and instruments where flatness and stiffness, and dimensional stability are required. The oxide has a very high melting point and is also used in nuclear work and ceramic applications. Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with the greatest of care. Beryllium and its compounds should not be tasted to verify the sweetish nature of beryllium (as did early experimenters). The metal, its alloys, and its salts can be handled safely if certain work codes are observed, but no attempt should be made to work with beryllium before becoming familiar with proper safeguards. Beryllium metal is available at a cost of about $2.50/o, (99.5% pure).
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Beryllium is a naturally occurring, silver-grey metal. Lighter than aluminum and more rigid than steel, Be has many unusual properties which make it ideal for several applications, including aircraft and space vehicle structure, x-ray machine assemblage, mirrors, ceramics, metal alloys, and, since the 1950's, nuclear technology including weapons and reactors. The most significant disadvantage of Be as an industrial material appears to be the toxicity of its dust, fumes, and soluble salts. However, metallic Be has good resistance to alteration or chemical attack and is not easily altered to soluble forms when released to the environment. Most Be in the soils does not dissolve in water and remains bound to the soil particles. An initiator is a device that produces a timed burst of neutrons to initiate a fission chain reaction in a nuclear weapon. Initiators made of polonium-210 and beryllium were located at the center of the fissile cores of early atomic weapons. The highly radioactive isotope of Polonium (Po-210) is a strong alpha emitter. Beryllium will absorb alphas and emit neutrons. This isotope of polonium has a half life of almost 140 days, and a neutron initiator using this material needs to have the polonium, which is generated in a nuclear reactor, to be replaced frequently. To supply the initiation pulse of neutrons at the right time, the polonium and the beryllium need to be kept apart until the appropriate moment and then thoroughly and rapidly mixed by the implosion of the weapon. Beryllium is used as the reflector material (or 'pit liner') in most contemporary American nuclear weapons and thermonuclear primaries. The 'primary', or weapon trigger, consists of three components: the central spherical plutonium 'pit' or core, the Be 'pit liner', and a surrounding high-explosives shaped-charge. The pit liner, sometimes also referred to as the "skull", surrounds the spherical plutonium pit and is in turn surrounded by high explosives. All three of these components together make up a modern nuclear weapon's "primary", or trigger, which initiates the thermonuclear reaction in a weapon's secondary components. The beryllium liner effectively acts as 1) a reflector which directs neutrons back into the plutonium pit; 2) a tamper which initially contains and thereby helps to increase the force of the explosion; and 3) a generator of additional neutrons.2 A flux of neutrons at the beginning of a nuclear weapon's detonation initiates critical mass, which subsequently leads to the weapon's designed destructive yield. The Department of Energy uses beryllium metal to fabricate weapons components and to facilitate a number of weapons-related experiments. Based on its analysis of the President's 2001 Nuclear Posture Review, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) estimated that it would need approximately 90 tons of beryllium metal to meet mission requirements over the next 30 years. About 50 tons of the material is currently available for purchase from the Defense Department's National Defense Stockpile. Because the only domestic producer of beryllium metal from ore ceased production in 2000, NNSA had been uncertai how it would overcome the perceived shortfall. NNSA's existing beryllium metal weapon component manufacturing process involves machining down large blocks of beryllium metal so that only about four percent of the feed material ends up in the final product. This means that the process results in a discard of 96 percent of the material as scrap. Technical experts explained that this metal could not be reused for weapons production without reprocessing since it contains impurities from the manufacturing process. Near-net shaping, on the other hand, is a process by which beryllium powder is sized to a shape closer to that of the final parts, thereby allowing NNSA to use significantly less beryllium metal to manufacture the same parts. Beryllium Is a Silver-Gray Metallic Element That Occurs Naturally in About 30 Minerals. Beryllium was discovered in 1798, but it was not widely used in industry until the 1940s and 1950s. In industrial applications beryllium can be: used as pure metal mixed with other metals to form alloys processed to salts that dissolve in water processed to form oxides and ceramic materials Beryllium-Containing Minerals Are Found in Rocks, Coal and Oil, Soil, and Volcanic DustFrom these sources, beryllium is emitted into the air and water by natural processes like erosion and by the burning of coal and oil. According to data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average concentration of airborne beryllium in the United States is very small (0.03 nanogram/cubic meter—a nanogram is one-billionth of a gram).Beryllium used in industry begins as a silicate (BeSiO3) in beryl and bertrandite ores. In a very pure crystalline form, beryl is known to us as gems such as blue-green aquamarine and green emerald.Bertrandite is mined in Utah, but other ores and scrap are imported into the United States, which is the world’s leading producer, processor, and consumer of beryllium products. According to U.S. Geological Survey reports, total US use of all forms of beryllium in 1996 was about 234 metric tons.
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http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomi...es/ff_46_5.jpg
can you find the "Beryllium Reference" in this comic? |
Beryllium Chloride can affect you when breathed in
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There is a great parallel between metals and our civilized history. The use of a particular metal in day-to-day activities reflected the course of technology during a period of history and, quite often, influenced the rate at which a particular civilization advanced. Indeed, the metal copper has had a long, varied and extremely interesting history. Accordingly, it has served as the signpost of technological development over the centuries.Copper was the first metal that man used for tools and implements. It is conceivable that the primary reason for the early development of practical applications for this versatile metal was that copper, like gold and silver, is sometimes found in a pure state. As such, it can be beaten into shape even when cold. The earliest use of copper was by the Sumerians and Egyptians some 7,000 years ago. Long before Europeans reached the continent of North America, American Indians were using copper for beads and tools. Today, copper and copper alloys are used extensively in the manufacture of a multitude of applications - electric power, water supply, air cooling, telecommunications, computers, consumer products and countless electronic devices. Copper is the most widely used of all metals for today's diverse technologies. Copper is not only widely used but also simple to use. It is easily worked and ductile. It has pleasing color and luster, and forms alloys readily with many metals, increasing its versatility. There are more than 100 copper alloys, including zinc-brasses, tin- bronzes, nickel silvers and cupro nickels. Choice among the alloys in the copper-based system is one with slightly less than 2 percent beryllium (Be). The beryllium allows this alloy to be processed into strength levels higher than all other copper alloys. Beryllium is an alkaline earth metal. As an ore, beryl, or aluminum beryllium silicate, is a hexagonal crystal and contains as much as 15 percent beryllium. It is mined sometimes with aquamarine (a blue beryl) and emerald. In its metal form, it is the lightest of all the rigid metals and among the strongest. It has very high resistance to heat and corrosion, a very precise elastic limit, low mass atomic absorption, high infrared reflectivity and conductivity equal to that of aluminum. Accordingly, alloys of beryllium and copper have become technology's material of choice in the manufacture of electrical and thermal conducting springs because of their strength, heat dissipation and resistance to fatigue. Beryllium-copper alloys have desirable properties facilitating their use in a variety of demanding applications. However, it is not commonly realized that there are two distinct families of properties. The first is high strength, and the second is high conductivity. The high-strength alloys (C17200 and C17000) are less dense (.298 lbs./cu. in.) than conventional specialty coppers. This often results in a yield of up to 7 percent more feet per pound than high-strength phosphor bronze. The high-conductivity beryllium-copper alloys (C17500 C17510 and C17410) are ideally suited to applications requiring high operating temperatures, or high strength and conductivity. The following are specific beryllium-copper alloy advantages: High strength-to-weight ratio High electrical and thermal conductivity Long service life Wide range of mechanical properties Wide range of tempers High resistance to stress relaxation High fatigue strength Good corrosion resistance Resistance to anelastic behavior
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Beryllium copper is available in strip, wire, rod, bar, plate tubing, billet, casting ingot and extruded shapes. Beryllium-copper wire is one of the more widely used product forms of this feature-rich alloy. Wire can be drawn to fine sizes, or rolled in rect-angles, squares, profiled shapes or fine ribbon. This, in conjunction with the diverse attributes of the alloy, creates wire applications which include, but are not limited to, long-travel coil springs; spring-loaded test probes; connectors; bandoleer connector compliant pins; axial-gripping electronic contacts; speaker leads; and miniature coined and cold-forged electronic contacts. In general, beryllium copper displays many of the desirable plating and joining characteristics which are well documented for copper alloys. However, because of the ability that this alloy has to be heat treated and the high affinity that beryllium has in forming oxides at elevated temperatures, surface cleanliness is a critical factor if articles are to be subsequently plated or joined by soldering, brazing or welding. Surface oxides, oil and the like must be thoroughly removed - preferably before and after the heat treatment process. Many applications permit using pretempered and/or pre-plated wire. Cautious selection of the plating and condition of the starting wire can eliminate unnecessary processing steps. Heat treating and/or stress relieving finished parts is very common in highly stressed coil springs. Many applications may permit the use of a fine coating of plating on wire to aid in coiling of pretempered (already heat treated) wire. Silver and gold possess a low coefficient of friction, which allows the reduction of surface forming stresses. Sometimes the reductions are significant enough that costly stress relieving may be omitted. Although there are great advantages in processing formed and heat treated parts, processing parts from both heat treated and pretempered wire are common practices. Where a cyclic stress environment exists, such as with electronic and electric-contact springs, beryllium-copper wire has an extremely successful performance record. The alloy performs quite well in this area and also under conditions of high-impact stress. Accordingly, heavier sections of the alloy can be found in applications such as aircraft landing-gear bushings, where high fatigue strength and resistance to galling is of paramount performance. These applications are not dissimilar to that of computer printers where fine, gold-plated coil springs (.004-.0058 in. diameter) are used, in conjunction with a brass contact plunger, to produce spring-loaded contacts that interface with ink-release contacts in the ink-jet printer cartridge signaling ink release patterns.Beryllium-copper alloys offer the design engineer a broad range of alluring attributes: high electric and thermal conductivity, wide operating temperature ranges, heat treatability and excellent resistance to fatigue. The fact that this alloy is nonsparking is a definite asset in spring design, where sparks are a major concern. Beryllium copper is nonmagnetic and is magnetically unaltered by heat treatment or cold work. It is also quite effective as an electromagnetic insulator/radio frequency insulator. The alloy is resistant to galling and provides inherent good wear resistance. It is selected as a material to be used in applications where abrasive contact with other surfaces occurs. These applications can include use as test-probe tube plungers or as even larger, die casting plungers for aluminum die cast machines. Beryllium copper is presently well known for the high reliability and long life it provides to springs for automotive electronics, windshield wiper switches, cruise control switches, power door locks, and power seat, dash and light switches. It is now finding its way to the other side of the fire wall with its use in springs and contacts from the high-temperature high-conductivity side of the beryllium-copper family. The alloys C17410 and C17510 have been established as premier high-temperature copper-based materials. Sometimes known as RWMA Class III, beryllium-copper welding electrodes are used where high conductivity, good strength and resistance to welder tip mushrooming are important. It is also widely used as die-casting plunger tips, where resistance to shot sleeve wear and erosion from contact with the molten aluminum together make a very hostile environment. This alloy family has numerous spring and spring-contact applications in high-voltage circuit breakers and fuse switches - small and large. In some of these applications, the base metal is stress-loaded for years under extreme environmental conditions.
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History(Gr. beryllos, beryl; also called Glucinium or Glucinum, Gr. glykys, sweet) Discovered as the oxide by Vauquelin in beryl and in emeralds in 1798. The metal was isolated in 1828 by Wohler and by Bussy independently by the action of potassium on beryllium chloride. SourcesBeryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most important of which are bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, and phenacite. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of beryl. Beryl and bertrandite are the most important commercial sources of the element and its compounds. Most of the metal is now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal. Beryllium metal did not become readily available to industry until 1957. PropertiesThe metal, steel gray in color, has many desirable properties. As one of the lightest of all metals, it has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. Its modulus of elasticity is about one third greater than that of steel. It resists attack by concentrated nitric acid, has excellent thermal conductivity, and is nonmagnetic. It has a high permeability to X-rays and when bombarded by alpha particles, as from radium or polonium, neutrons are produced in the amount of about 30 neutrons/million alpha particles. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air, although its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide. UsesBeryllium is used as an alloying agent in producing beryllium copper, which is extensively used for springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, and non-sparking tools. It is applied as a structural material for high-speed aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and communication satellites. Other uses include windshield frame, brake discs, support beams, and other structural components of the space shuttle. Because beryllium is relatively transparent to X-rays, ultra-thin Be-foil is finding use in X-ray lithography for reproduction of microminiature integrated circuits. Beryllium is used in nuclear reactors as a reflector or moderator for it has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section. It is used in gyroscopes, computer parts, and instruments where lightness, stiffness, and dimensional stability are required. The oxide has a very high melting point and is also used in nuclear work and ceramic applications. HandlingBeryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with the greatest of care. Beryllium and its compounds should not be tasted to verify the sweetish nature of beryllium (as did early experimenters). The metal, its alloys, and its salts can be handled if certain work codes are observed, but no attempt should be made to work with beryllium before becoming familiar with proper safeguards
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This is the periodic table symbol for Beryllium. |
beryllium is available in several forms including foil, lump, and powder. Small and large samples of beryllium foil can be purchased from Advent Research Materials via their web catalogue.
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Beryllium is a Group 2 (IIA) element. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. 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, [Be3Al2(SiO3)6].
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Here is a brief summary of the isolation of beryllium.
Beryllium metal is available commercially and so would never normally be made in the laboratory. Its extraction from ores is complex. The mineral beryl, [Be3Al2(SiO3)6] is the most important source of beryllium. It is roasted with sodimu hexafluorosilicate, Na2SiF6, at 700°C to form beryllium fluoride. This is water soluble and the beryllium may be precipitated as the hydroxide Be(OH)2 by adjustment of the pH to 12. |
Pure beryllium may be obtained by electrolysis of molten BeCl2 containing some NaCl. The salt is added since the molten BeCl2 conducts very poorly. Another method involves the reduction of beryllium fluoride with magnesium at 1300°C.
BeF2 + Mg → MgF2 + Be |
People working or living near beryllium industries have the greatest potential for exposure to beryllium. Lung damage has been observed in people exposed to high levels of beryllium in the air. About 1-15% of all people occupationally-exposed to beryllium in air become sensitive to beryllium and may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD), an irreversible and sometimes fatal scarring of the lungs. CBD may be completely asymptomatic or begin with coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, and/or fatigue.
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Beryllium has been found in at least 535 of the 1,613 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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What is beryllium?
Beryllium is a hard, grayish metal naturally found in mineral rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust. Beryllium compounds are commercially mined, and the beryllium is purified for use in nuclear weapons and reactors, aircraft and space vehicle structures, instruments, x-ray machines, and mirrors. Beryllium ores are used to make speciality ceramics for electrical and high-technology applications. Beryllium alloys are used in automobiles, computers, sports equipment (golf clubs and bicycle frames), and dental bridges. |
What happens to beryllium when it enters the environment?
* Beryllium dust enters the air from burning coal and oil. This beryllium dust will eventually settle over the land and water. * It enters water from erosion of rocks and soil, and from industrial waste. Some beryllium compounds will dissolve in water, but most stick to particles and settle to the bottom. * Most beryllium in soil does not dissolve in water and remains bound to soil. * Beryllium does not accumulate in the food chain. |
How might I be exposed to beryllium?
* The general population is exposed to normally low levels of beryllium in air, food, and water. * People working in industries where beryllium is mined, processed, machined, or converted into metal, alloys, and other chemicals may be exposed to high levels of beryllium. People living near these industries may also be exposed to higher than normal levels of beryllium in air. * People living near uncontrolled hazardous waste sites may be exposed to higher than normal levels of beryllium. |
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