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Beryllium

Atomic Number: 4

Atomic Weight: 9.012182

Melting Point: 1560 K (1287°C or 2349°F)

Boiling Point: 2744 K (2471°C or 4480°F)

Density: 1.85 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Element Classification: Metal

Period Number: 2 Group Number: 2 Group Name: Alkaline Earth Metal

What's in a name? From the Greek word beryl, a type of mineral.

Say what? Beryllium is pronounced as beh-RIL-i-em.

History and Uses:

Although emeralds and beryl were known to ancient civilizations, they were first recognized as the same mineral (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) by Abbé Haüy in 1798. Later that year, Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin, a French chemist, discovered that an unknown element was present in emeralds and beryl. Attempts to isolate the new element finally succeeded in 1828 when two chemists, Friedrich Wölhler of Germany and A. Bussy of France, independently produced beryllium by reducing beryllium chloride (BeCl2) with potassium in a platinum crucible. Today, beryllium is primarily obtained from the minerals beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) and bertrandite (4BeO·2SiO2·H2O) through a chemical process or through the electrolysis of a mixture of molten beryllium chloride (BeCl2) and sodium chloride (NaCl).

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.

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.

Beryllium oxide (BeO), a compound of beryllium, is used in the nuclear industry and in ceramics.

Beryllium was once known as glucinum, which means sweet, since beryllium and many of its compounds have a sugary taste. Unfortunately for the chemists that discovered this particular property, beryllium and many of its compounds are poisonous and should never be tasted or ingested.

Estimated Crustal Abundance: 2.8 milligrams per kilogram

Estimated Oceanic Abundance: 5.6×10-6 milligrams per liter

Number of Stable Isotopes: 1 (View all isotope data)

Ionization Energy: 9.323 eV

Oxidation State: 2

Beryllium is an excellent additive in bearing materials to promote lubricity and long life.

That's what I'm talking about.

(Gr. beryllos: beryl; also called Glucinium or Glucinum, Gr. glykys: sweet) Discovered in the oxide form by Vauquelin in both beryl and emeralds in 1798. The metal was isolated in 1828 by Wohler and by Bussy independently by the action of potassium on beryllium chloride.

Sources

Properties

The 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.

(Gr. beryllos: beryl; also called Glucinium or Glucinum, Gr. glykys: sweet) Discovered in the oxide form by Vauquelin in both beryl and emeralds in 1798. The metal was isolated in 1828 by Wohler and by Bussy independently by the action of potassium on beryllium chloride.

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.

Uses

Beryllium 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 micro-miniature 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.

Handling

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 if certain work codes are observed, but no attempt should be made to work with beryllium before becoming familiar with proper safeguards.

NABER National Advocates for Beryllium Education and Reform

Beryllium fumes and dust are among the most toxic substances known. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, and Agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, such as the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, have classified beryllium as a cause of cancer in humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (by Act of Congress); lists beryllium as a toxic air pollutant that needs to be controlled in our communities. Communities become contaminated with beryllium from nearby factories and mines or by uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels.

The toxic effects of beryllium are particularly evident among workers, who when exposed to beryllium fumes and dust, can also develop Chronic Beryllium Disease, or CBD. Recent studies indicate that CBD can develop after short exposures to beryllium and at low levels of exposure. CBD is a systemic disease affecting many parts of the body, but is best known for impairing the lungs. Many people with CBD become pulmonary invalids, dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day. There is no cure for CBD and drug treatments for the control of its symptoms have serious side effects. CBD can be fatal.

Beryllium is found in a variety of workplaces. Occupations which are at risk for beryllium disease include beryllium metal and alloy workers, scrap metal reclaiming, electronic industries (transistors, heat sinks, X-ray window), ceramic manufacturing, space and atomic engineering (rocket fuels, heat shields, weapons), laboratory workers, dental technicians, and ore extraction. Any process or work place where beryllium can become air borne, in the form of small particles or fume, presents a serious health hazard for workers.

National Advocates for Beryllium Education and Reform (NABER) is a self-help and advocacy group established to support beryllium workers and their families, and to foster beryllium education and research. NABER is an extension of the Colorado, Ohio and Tennessee Beryllium Disease Support Groups. NABER does not take the place of these pre-existing Support Groups. Rather, NABER provides an organizational structure for solidifying and extending mutually supportive ties across geographical boundaries.

NABER provides individuals with information about beryllium disease, physicians, medications, attorneys, worker's compensation, the history of the beryllium industry, etc. NABER also brings beryllium workers, their families, and others, together for support and problems solving. Having a national organization is an exciting turn of events. Our short term goals include building on prior accomplishments, like maintaining this WEB site, and expanding the hard copy newsletter currently being written and produced by the Ohio Chapter of NABER. The intention is to offer the newsletter to all beryllium workers, their families, and to others with an interest in beryllium disease or occupational and environmental health.

NABER's long term goals are directed at education, research, and serving as a resource to the wider community. Providing social support to beryllium workers and their families will, of course, continue. Current and former beryllium workers and their families, health professionals, and others with an interest in occupational and environmental health, are encouraged to contact NABER by responding to the webmaster@beryllium.org , theresan@umich.edu or call (517) 547-6746.

NABER Newsletters

Beryllium Exposure - Fall 1997