The periodic table/Beryllium

Beryllium is the fourth element on the periodic table.

Discovery
Beryllium was discovered in France by Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin in 1798, and was isolated independently by Friedrich Wöhler and A.A. Bussy in 1828.

Beryllium in Gemstones
Beryllium is found in beryls (beryllium aluminum silicate, Be3Al2(SiO3)6), crysoberyls (BeAl2O4), emeralds, and aquamarines.

Quick Facts
Name: Beryllium atom

Symbol: Be

Atomic Mass: 9.012182 amu

Classification: group 2 (alkaline earth metals)

Protons: 4

Electrons: 4

Neutrons: 5

Colour: grey

Discovered in: 1798

Density: 1.85 g/cm3

Crystal Structure: hexagonal Melting Point: 1,287 °C (1,560 K) / 1,278 °C (1,551 K)

Boiling Point: 2,469 °C (2,742 K) / 2, 970 °C (3, 243 K)

Molecular Weight: 9.01218 g·mol-1

Common Uses: gyroscopes, spacecraft, aircraft, missiles, communication satellites

Uses
Beryllium is used in producing beryllium copper, in which beryllium copper is used to combine high strength with non magnetic and non sparking qualities ( screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, cold chisels, knives, and hammers).

Due to Beryllium's oxide having a very high melting point, beryllium is used for nuclear work. Beryllium is used in nuclear weapon designs as the very outer layer of a pit (the explosive bomb, see the wikipedia article). The layers of beryllium added onto pits create more of a "push" for the implosion (process of collapsing or squeezing on themselves) of plutonium-239.

Beryllium is also used in jewelry (from gemstone), as Emerald and Aquamarine are two varieties of beryl.