beryllium

[ buh-ril-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a steel-gray, bivalent, hard, light, metallic element, the salts of which are sweet: used chiefly in copper alloys for better fatigue endurance, in springs, and in electrical contacts. : Be; : 9.0122; : 4; : 1.8 at 20° C.

beryllium

/ bɛˈrɪlɪəm /

noun

1. a corrosion-resistant toxic silvery-white metallic element that occurs chiefly in beryl and is used mainly in X-ray windows and in the manufacture of alloys. Symbol: Be; atomic no: 4; atomic wt: 9.012; valency: 2; relative density: 1.848; melting pt: 1289°C; boiling pt: 2472°C Former namesglucinumglucinium

beryllium

/ bə-rĭl′ē-əm /

1. A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of beryllium¹

1860–65; < Latin bēryll ( us ) beryl + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of beryllium¹

C19: from Latin bēryllus , from Greek bērullos

Example Sentences

Wayne felt his heart starting to pound; D-N beryllium was big.

From Project Gutenberg

Actually, it could be found eventually with the D-N beryllium as a guide.

From Project Gutenberg

One such reaction uses alpha particles emitted by polonium-210 (or some other alpha emitter) to bombard the element beryllium.

From Project Gutenberg

That was beryllium steel, the alloy from which the barriers at the terminals of the surta mine were fashioned.

From Project Gutenberg

The oxide of beryllium, BeO (also known as glucina), occurs in nature mainly as silicate.

From Project Gutenberg