 Discovery Information |
| Who:
Fredrich Wohler
,
A. A. Bussy
|
| When: 1798 |
| Where: Germany/France |
|
| Name Origin |
| From the mineral beryl. |
|
| Sources |
| Found mostly in minerals like beryl and chrysoberyl. |
|
| Uses |
| Its ability to absorb large amounts of heat makes it useful in spacecraft, missiles, aircraft, etc. Emeralds are beryl crystals with chromium traces giving them their green color. Also used in light weight metal alloys, X-ray tube windows, watch springs and sparkless tools. |
|
| Notes |
| Beryllium comes from Greek beryllos, beryl. It has also been called Glucinium or Glucinum from the Greek word glykys which means "sweet." Beryllum is found in beryl, chrysoberyl and phenacite. Aquamarine and emeralds are precious forms of beryl. It has a high
melting point
for a light metal and is more elastic than steel. It is used in computer parts, gyroscopes and for construction. Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with great care. Do not taste it to confirm that it is sweet. Beryllium is a potential occupational carcinogen (lung cancer). |
| Beryllium and its salts are toxic substances and potentially carcinogenic. |
| Beryllium is an essential constituent of about 100 out of about 4000 known minerals. |
