A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

38

Alkaline Earth Metals

Forms

Beryllium

Be

4

This widely used element gets its name

from the Greek word ber yllos, after which

the mineral beryl is also named. Beryllium

is the lightest of the alkaline earth metals, but

it does not share many of the group’s properties.

For example, it does not react with water and is

much harder than the other metals in its

group. Two common beryllium minerals are

chrysoberyl and beryl. Beryl has different

forms, such as aquamarine and emerald.

Beryllium is useful in many ways. For example,

some military helicopters use windows made

These cr ystals have

this pale blue colour

due to iron impurities.

This mineral can

also be brown, green,

or orange.

Lightweight

metal

Beryllium is

found in more than

30 kinds of

mineral.

4 4 5

State: Solid

Discovery: 1797

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