beryllium

American  

[buh-ril-ee-uhm] / bəˈrɪl i əm /

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.

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beryllium British  

/ bɛˈrɪlɪəm /

noun

1. Former names: glucinum.   glucinium.  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

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beryllium Scientific  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of beryllium

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

Example Sentences

Beryllium is rare in the universe, and most is produced when cosmic rays collide with large atoms, chipping off atomic fragments such as beryllium.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 30, 2023

The star of the show remains the 11mm Beryllium acoustic drivers, and like the MW08s, these earbuds have Bluetooth 5.2 and external antennas for optimal wireless performance and reliability.

From The Verge • Jul. 27, 2021

So for instance, since Lithium and Beryllium have atomic numbers 3 and 4, the 31st to 40th digits of π appear between Li and Be making the ‘‘mouthful’’

From Scientific American • Mar. 14, 2019

Beryllium occurs as the mineral beryl, Be3Al2Si6O18, which, with certain impurities, may be either the gemstone emerald or aquamarine.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Beryllium, following lithium, is less strongly base-forming, while boron has some base-forming and some acid-forming properties.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William