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Beryllium is a silvery gray metal with numerous uses, but it is a carcinogen and can cause lung problems. It has a high melting point and is a popular inclusion in metal alloys. It was not isolated until 1828 and is expensive to obtain. Long-term exposure can result in chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer.
Beryllium is a metallic chemical element grouped with the alkaline earth elements, which include magnesium, calcium, barium, radium, and strontium. Like other elements of this group, it is a silvery gray metal and its oxides are alkaline. There are numerous uses for beryllium, although care should be taken when handling it, as it has been established as a carcinogen. People who are regularly exposed to it should pay particular attention to lung protection, as inhaling fumes and particles is very dangerous for lung health.
The atomic number of beryllium is four and is denoted by the symbol Be on the periodic table of elements. It is the lightest of the alkaline earth elements and appears in a stiff, steel gray form when pure. The element is able to resist corrosion quite well, and also has a very high melting point. These traits make it a popular inclusion in metal alloys. The hexagonal crystal structure of beryllium makes it very rigid, and the metal also has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.
Pure beryllium does not occur in nature and was not isolated until 1828. One of its best known compounds is beryl, called aquamarine or emerald when it appears in gem form. It also appears in bertrandite and phenakite, among other compounds. Widespread isolation of beryllium for industrial use did not begin until the 1950s and continues to be an expensive and difficult process. As a result, the pure form comes with a high price.
Initially, beryllium was known as glucinium, because the element’s salts are naturally sweet. Fortunately, scientists no longer need to taste these salts to identify them, as they are carcinogenic. Among its many uses, the element is related to copper and employed in nuclear reactors. It is also used for X-ray diagnostics and appears in some aerospace productions, as it is light, strong and flexible, especially when bonded.
Exposure to beryllium can result in the formation of systemic granulomas, especially in the respiratory tract. Long-term exposure is closely linked to lung cancer. Chronic beryllium disease, the result of abnormally high levels of exposure, can appear years after exposure and is characterized by breathing difficulties, exhaustion, heart disease, and severe weight loss. Some people also experience skin problems such as rashes due to exposure.
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