Alchemists were the precursors of modern chemists. In searching for gold they seemed to find everything else. While perhaps not understanding what they found Alchemists in the Middle Ages did discover many compounds and elements. Certainly to my mind one of their greatest achievements was deducing the existance of Beryllium. Why is that so amazing? . They thought everything could be explained by combinations of fire, earth, air, water etc. (sounds a little like up, down, strange, and charm Quarks in mordern physics.) Besides, not really understanding what an element was, two elements Alluminum and Beryllium resemeble each other physically (light grey metals) and chemically. Similar in chemical properties? This is a little strange since Beryllium has the atomic number 4 and Aluminum has the atomic number 11.

They are no where near each other in the periodic table of the elements. The periodic table of elements, may I remind you, is arranged according to « families » in columns. Usually this works quite well, for example; the inert gases all have pretty much the same properties, in short if the element is in the same column as an other element these two elements will generally have the same properties or similar characteristics. This system does not work for Beryllium and Aluminum. This may be due to Alluminum's ability to mimic other elements.(see Aluminum Clusters Exhibit Multiple Personalities) These two metals react in the same way to the other elements even though they are not in the same column.

This means that if you add aluminum something or other to a solution and you get a white parciptate then if you add beryllium something or other to the same solution you again get the same white parciptate. As a matter of fact, there is an uncanny resemblance between Aluminum and Beryllium.This was common knowledge in the beginning of the twentyth century.*1. As far as I know they differ in only one common reaction: when Aluminum Hydroxide (remember that compound?) is in solution and you introduce carbon dioxide a (catalyst) the aluminum particulate out into a grey compound Al (OH)3 . In the same situation Beryllium Hydroxide would remain in the form Be OH and stay in solution .To get the Beryllium out of solution you have to change the ph to 12 (Basic as opposed to acidic) and you get a Be(OH)2 particulate.

Did the ancient alchemists discover this reaction? No they didn’t. Well then how did they differentiate Aluminum which they knew since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans as alum which was used as an astringent and as a preparation for dyeing fabrics, from Beryllium compounds? By taste, you see to them Beryllium compounds especially sulphates taste sweet. By the way, Beryllium is also known as Glucinium or Glucinum from the Greek; glykys: sweet) And it was finally discovered (in oxide form) by Nicolas Louis Vauquelin in 1798.

Please don't try to taste Beryllium compounds for most substances (especially salts) made from Beryllium are poisonous, decidedly so.

A Brief Industrial History of Beryllium Poisoning

During the 1930s, it was discovered that beryllium extended the lifetime of fluorescent light bulbs

"During the following decade, the hard, grayish metal was identified as the cause of a potentially debilitating, sometimes deadly disease characterized by shortness of breath and inflammation, swelling, and scarring of the lungs." HealthAtoZ
In the early days not much care was taken to control Beryllium dust in the factories.

The results were deadly.Many who got Beryllium dust in their lungs died although not all. There may be a genetic factor to this disease as in the cas of Alzhiemer's. At any rate the severity and rapidity of this industrial disease, Chronic Beryllium Disease actually made it easier to believe claims later made for asbestosis.

Today because of its light weight many airplane parts are made from alloys of Beryllium.

Actually Beryllium is everywhere in modern life: from dentestry,electronics, fiber optics,ceramics, bicycle frames, golf clubs, mirrors, to the atomic industry.

So many people have been exposed. Beryllium is a alkaline metals and not found free in nature because it is very reactive.

Humans like other animals on this planet were never exposed to pure Beryllium in nature

Thus they never use it in their biological processes and have not evolved to handle Beryllium or remove it from their bodies. Indeed, Beryllium metal powder is classified as a Class B Poison.

Workers who got Beryllium dust embedded in their skin had to have the skin removed and new skin grafted in its place.This skin irritation , I remembered caused, if left untreated weird bundles and holes in the skin surface. (Sound familiar?). Although, I recently read discriptions results of this skin disease that were more like warts and ulcers. Still you get the picture.