Beryllium (Be )


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Beryllium (Be )
Atomic Mass : 9.01218
Atomic Number : 4
Name Origins: Greek, beryllos = "beryl."
Year Discovered:
1797
Discovery Credits:
N. L. Vauquerlin at Paris, France. Isolated in 1828 by R. Wohler at Berlin, Germany, and independently by A. A. B Bussy at Paris, France.
Remarks:
Silvery-white, lustrous, relatively soft metal, obtained by the electrolysis of fused BeCl2. Unaffected by air or water even at red heat. Used in alloys with copper and nickel, and imparts excellent electrical and thermal conductivities. Copper alloy used to make spark-proof tools.
Diagnostic tests: The majority of beryllium-bearing minerals are silicates or phosphates. There are no simple chemical tests to determine Be. Atomic Emission spectroscopy and atomic adsorption spectroscopy are commonly employed for the detection of beryllium.
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