Element #4

Beryllium

alkaline earth solid Discovered 1798

9.012 Atomic Mass (u)

1287 C Melting Point

2469 C Boiling Point

1.85 g/cm3 Density

1.57 Electronegativity

[He] 2s2 Electron Config

2 Period

2 Group

📖 About Beryllium

An extremely stiff, lightweight, and toxic metal. It is transparent to X-rays, making it useful for X-ray tube windows. Beryllium is highly toxic if inhaled as dust or fumes, causing a serious chronic lung disease called berylliosis. Despite this, it is crucial in aerospace and nuclear applications.

🔧 Uses and Applications

X-ray machine windows
Aerospace structural alloys
Nuclear reactor reflectors
Gyroscopes and precision instruments
Satellite components

💡 Did You Know?

Fact: Beryllium is one of only two stable elements with an odd number of protons that cannot be produced by stellar nucleosynthesis. It is created by cosmic ray spallation of heavier elements.