Beryllium (Be) - Properties, Applications

Topics Covered

Introduction
Chemical Properties
Physical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Thermal Properties
Applications

Introduction

Beryllium is a chemical element with atomic number 4, represented by the chemical symbol ‘Be’. It is a toxic, bivalent element having a steel gray appearance. It is a lightweight metal having very high melting point and good thermal conductivity. It is non-magnetic by nature and exhibits good resistance to corrosion due to exposure to air and contact with nitric acid. Beryllium belongs to the alkaline earth metal category, s-block and period 2 of the periodic table.

Beryllium content on earth’s crust is 2.6 ppm. It is one of the most toxic elements, hence causes damage to human lungs and other organisms. It is found in as many as 30 different minerals.

Chemical Properties

The chemical properties of beryllium are provided in the table below:

Physical Properties

The following table discusses the physical properties of beryllium.

Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of beryllium are tabulated below.

Thermal Properties

The thermal properties of beryllium are tabulated below.

Applications

The following are the application areas of beryllium:

• Alloying agent in production of beryllium-copper
• X-ray detection diagnostics
• Manufacture of computer peripherals
• Nuclear reactors as neutron moderators and reflectors
• Satellite structures
• IR target acquisition
• Heat sink constraining cores

Beryllium alloys are used in defense and aerospace industries.