A large beryllium crystal of 99%+ purity.
(Photo: Alchemist-hp)
Harmful effects:

Beryllium and its salts are both toxic and carcinogenic.

Characteristics:

Beryllium has the highest melting point of the light metals, melting at 1278 oC - considerably higher than, for example, Lithium (180 oC) Sodium (98 oC) Magnesium (650 oC) Aluminum (660 oC) or Calcium (839 oC).

On the surface of beryllium a thin layer of the hard oxide BeO forms, protecting the metal from further attack by water or air. As a result of the BeO layer, beryllium does not oxidize in air even at 600oC and it resists corrosion by concentrated nitric acid.

Beryllium also has high thermal conductivity and is nonmagnetic.

Uses:

Unlike most metals, beryllium is virtually transparent to x-rays and hence it is used in radiation windows for x-ray tubes.

Beryllium alloys are used in the aerospace industry as light-weight materials for high performance aircraft, satellites and spacecraft.

Beryllium is also used in nuclear reactors as a reflector and absorber of neutrons, a shield and a moderator.
Reactions
Reaction with air: vigourous, w/ht ⇒ BeO, Be3N2 Reaction with 6 M HCl: mild ⇒ H2

Reaction with 15 M HNO3: none

Reaction with 6 M NaOH: mild ⇒ H2, [Be(OH)4]2

Atomic radius: 112 pm Ionic radius (1+ ion): pm

Abundance & Isotopes

Abundance earth's crust: 2.8 parts per million by weight, 4.6 parts per million by moles

Overview of Beryllium

Atomic Number:4

Group: 2