Beryllium and its salts are toxic substances and potentially carcinogenic. Chronic berylliosis is a pulmonary and systemic granulomatous disease caused by exposure to beryllium. Acute beryllium disease in the form of chemical pneumonitis was first reported in Europe in 1933 and in the United States in 1943. Cases of chronic berylliosis were first described in 1946 among workers in plants manufacturing fluorescent lamps in Massachusetts. Chronic berylliosis resembles sarcoidosis in many respects, and the differential diagnosis is often difficult.
Although the use of beryllium compounds in fluorescent lighting tubes was discontinued in 1949, potential for exposure to beryllium exists in the nuclear and aerospace industries and in the refining of beryllium metal and melting of beryllium-containing alloys, the manufacturing of electronic devices, and the handling of other beryllium-containing material.

Early researchers tasted beryllium and its various compounds for sweetness in order to verify its presence. Modern diagnostic equipment no longer necessitates this highly risky procedure and no attempt should be made to ingest this substance. Beryllium and its compounds should be handled with great care and special precautions must be taken when carrying out any activity which could result in the release of beryllium dust (lung cancer is a possible result of prolonged exposure to beryllium laden dust).

This substance can be handled safely if certain procedures are followed. No attempt should be made to work with beryllium before familiarization with correct handling procedures.

Discovery of Beryllium

444444444444Discovery of the element in the mineral beryl, was reported by Nicolas Louis Vauquelin in 1789.

Commercial value of Beryllium

1969 Bertrandite mine established in the United States providing a significant raw materials source

1977 Effects of inflation rates, increased energy costs, and additional costs associated with complying with air emission

standards results in increased prices

1979 Beryllium metal price set by one producer

1988 Purchase of beryllium metal for the National Defense Stockpile (NDS)

1990 Conversion of NDS beryl ore to beryllium metal for the NDS

1991 Recession, dissolution of the Soviet Union



Beryllium found in nature

Pure beryllium is not found in nature. Beryllium compounds can be found in mineral rocks, soil, coal, oil, and volcanic dust.

(ball of beryllium below)

(diagram of a beryllium atom)



Properties of Beryllium
Beryllium is a toxic bivalent element, steel gray, strong, light-weight, primarily used as hardening agent in alloys. Beryllium has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. It has excellent thermal conductivity, is nonmagnetic, it resists attack by concentrated nitric acid and at standard temperature and pressures beryllium resist oxidation when exposts to air.



Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium-copper. Thanks to their electrical and thermal conductivity, high strenght and hardness, non magnetic properties, good resistance, dimensional stability over a wide temperature range beryllium-copper alloys are used in many applications. A typical application of beryllium-copper alloys is in the defense and aerospace industries.
Beryllium is also used in the field of X-ray detection diagnostic (it is transparent to X-rays) and in the making of various computer equipment.
1969 Bertrandite mine established in the United States providing a significant raw materials source

1977 Effects of inflation rates, increased energy costs, and additional costs associated with complying with air emission

standards results in increased prices

1979 Beryllium metal price set by one producer

1988 Purchase of beryllium metal for the National Defense Stockpile (NDS)

1990 Conversion of NDS beryl ore to beryllium metal for the NDS

1991 Recession, dissolution of the Soviet Union

Beryllium found in nature

Pure beryllium is not found in nature. Beryllium compounds can be found in mineral rocks, soil, coal, oil, and volcanic dust.

Properties of Beryllium
Beryllium is a toxic bivalent element, steel gray, strong, light-weight, primarily used as hardening agent in alloys. Beryllium has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. It has excellent thermal conductivity, is nonmagnetic, it resists attack by concentrated nitric acid and at standard temperature and pressures beryllium resist oxidation when exposts to air.

Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium-copper. Thanks to their electrical and thermal conductivity, high strenght and hardness, non magnetic properties, good resistance, dimensional stability over a wide temperature range beryllium-copper alloys are used in many applications. A typical application of beryllium-copper alloys is in the defense and aerospace industries.
Beryllium is also used in the field of X-ray detection diagnostic (it is transparent to X-rays) and in the making of various computer equipment.

Standard state: solid at 298 K

Colour: lead grey

Classification: Metallic

Availability:
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.