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. 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

beryllium

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

McCanlies was studying how a toxic chemical, beryllium, causes chronic lung inflammation in workers when she began to think seriously about autism.

From Salon

Though there haven’t been many studies on beryllium exposure, those that have been done suggest that it may raise the risk of lung cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

Other elements found in Ukraine include beryllium and uranium, which are both crucial for nuclear weapons and reactors.

From BBC

The fourth element to be formed was beryllium.

From Salon

They found that both carbon 14 and beryllium 10 shot up at the same time.

From Scientific American