Beryllium
Beryllium (铍, symbol Be) is chemical element number 4, an Alkaline Earth in period 2, group 2 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 9.0122. Steel-gray, strong, lightweight metal used in aerospace components and X-ray windows.
Properties
| Atomic number | 4 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Be |
| Atomic mass | 9.0122 u |
| Category | Alkaline Earth |
| Period | 2 |
| Group | 2 |
| Electron configuration | [He] 2s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.57 |
| Covalent radius | 96 pm |
| Density | 1.85 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1560 K |
| Boiling point | 2742 K |
| Discovery | Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, 1798 |
Overview
Steel-gray, strong, lightweight metal used in aerospace components and X-ray windows. Beryllium (symbol Be) is chemical element number 4, sitting in period 2, group 2 of the periodic table and classed as an Alkaline Earth. As an alkaline-earth metal it is a little less reactive than the alkali metals and occurs in nature mainly within mineral compounds.
With 2 electrons in its outermost shell, Beryllium bonds accordingly; full configuration [He] 2s², electronegativity 1.57. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 1560 K (1286.9 °C), boils near 2742 K (2468.9 °C), has a density around 1.85 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Structural / Alloys and Electronics / Semiconductors. It is regarded as a high-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin in 1798. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 2
Main uses
- Structural / Alloys
- Electronics / Semiconductors
Hazard
Compounds containing Beryllium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Beryllium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.