Chemical Industry Tips – Beryllium

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In 1798, L.N. Vauguelin in France discovered beryllium while studying beryl, Be3Al2(SiO3)6. It is an element of Group 2A in Period 2, with the symbol Be. A rare metal that occurs in beryl deposits in nature; it is one of the lightest structural metals. It has a grayish-white color and is hard in texture. Like lithium, it forms a protective oxide layer, which allows it to remain stable even when heated to red heat in air. It is insoluble in cold water, slightly soluble in hot water, and soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, and potassium hydroxide solutions, releasing hydrogen in the process. Beryllium is lighter than aluminum (density 1.85 g·cm-3), has a high specific strength (the ratio of strength to mass), is highly permeable to X-rays, making it an excellent neutron reflector (superior to graphite for slow neutrons) as well as a good neutron source. Beryllium can also form polymers. Unlike other alkaline earth metals, beryllium has a weak reactivity with the commonly used chelating agent EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), which is important in analysis. Beryllium is used to manufacture alloys for aircraft, X-ray tubes, beryllium-aluminum alloys, and bronzes; it is also employed as a moderator and reflector in nuclear reactors. Beryllium can be produced by electrolyzing molten beryllium chloride BeCl2 or beryllium hydroxide Be(OH)2.