Even though it's fairly near the top of the periodic table of the elements, beryllium is a relatively rare substance. Although it's not as known as oxygen and hydrogen, beryllium does help explore space, build heavy machinery and even pump gas. Beryllium also is a very dangerous substance, however, so people who work with it need to wear protection to keep from inhaling it.
Identification
Beryllium is one of the lightest metals, a steel-gray substance that resembles aluminum. It's lightweight enough to float in water and stays solid even under extremely high temperatures. You don't see it in its pure state often, however. Scientists first discovered beryllium in the mineral beryl, a type of rock that includes emeralds and aquamarines. Today, most beryllium comes from beryl or a volcanic rocks called bertrandite.
History
A French mineral expert named Abbe Hauy paved the way for the discovery of beryllium in 1798 by first noticing that the emerald, a stone known since the ancient days of civilization, was a form of beryl. A French chemist, Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin, later that year figured out that beryl and emeralds contained a mysterious, unknown element. Scientists were not able to isolate that element until about 30 years later. Scientists once called beryllium "glucinum," another word for sweet, because it has a sugary taste on the tongue. This was before they realized beryllium also is extremely poisonous, however.
Geography
Most beryllium in the world, about two-thirds of the globe's supply, comes from bertrandite ore mined in Utah in the United States. Most of the rest of it comes from beryl ores in Russia, although a handful of other countries also have mines with small amounts of beryl. People also are able to capture some beryllium for reuse through recycling.
Uses
Because beryllium is light and can withstand extreme heat, it is mostly used by mixing it with other metals, called alloys, in building airplanes, weapons and in springs and gears for machines. When mixed with copper, beryllium makes a metal called beryllium bronze, is used in gasoline pumps because it does not cause sparks, which would be an explosion risk. The windshield, brakes and other parts of the space shuttle also use beryllium alloys.
Warning
Unlike some other metals, such as calcium and potassium, beryllium is not a nutrient. Breathing dust from beryllium, in fact, can cause permanent and sometimes deadly scarring of the lungs called chronic beryllium disease. Since most people will never come in contact with beryllium metal, this is not a common condition. Miners and workers who process beryllium, however, must take special precautions to protect their lungs. Symptoms of beryllium disease include constant coughing, difficulty breathing and chest pain.
