The Elements : Beryllium

Beryllium

Name	Symbol	Atomic Number	Electronic Structure	Melting Point (°C)	Boiling Point (°C)
Beryllium	Be	4	2 - 2	1287	2469

Beryllium has the symbol Be. It is element number 4. Its four electrons are arranged in the sequence 2, 2. This might seem like a stable arrangement but the second electron shell of an atom can hold eight electrons so Beryllium is not inert.

Beryllium is a light, silvery-white metal melting at 1287°C. It is a constituent of the mineral, Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈), from which it gets its name.

The word "Beryl" is from Sanskrit and has the same root as "Brilliant".

The alloys of Beryllium are expensive but find uses in atomic reactors, in special glasses, and for daylight lighting. Its compounds are very toxic. The metal is never found free in nature as it prefers to be in combination with other atoms.

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