Information AboutBeryllium |
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Beryllium is the Chemical Element in the Periodic Table that has the symbol '''Be''' and Atomic Number 4. A highly toxic Bivalent element, beryllium is a steel grey, strong, light-weight yet brittle, Alkaline Earth Metal , that is primarily used as a hardening agent in Alloy s (most notably Beryllium Copper ). NOTABLE CHARACTERISTICS Beryllium has one of the highest Melting Point s of the light Metal s. The Modulus Of Elasticity of beryllium is approximately 1/3 greater than that of steel. It has excellent Thermal Conductivity , is nonmagnetic and resists attack by concentrated Nitric Acid . It is highly permeable to X-ray s, and Neutron s are liberated when it is hit by Alpha Particle s, as from Radium or Polonium (about 30 neutrons/million alpha particles). At Standard Temperature And Pressure s beryllium resists Oxidation when exposed to air (although its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide). The Speed Of Sound in beryllium (12,500m/s) is greater than in any other element. APPLICATIONS
''See also ''. HISTORY The name beryllium comes from the ''glykys'', sweet), due to the sweet taste of its Salt s. This element was discovered by Louis Vauquelin in 1798 as the oxide in Beryl and in Emerald s. Friedrich Wöhler and A. A. Bussy independently isolated the metal in 1828 by reacting Potassium and Beryllium Chloride . OCCURRENCE Beryllium is an essential constituent of about 100 out of about 4000 known Mineral s, the most important of which are Bertrandite (Be4Si2O7(OH)2), Beryl (Al2Be3Si6O18), Chrysoberyl (Al2BeO4), and Phenakite (Be2SiO4). Precious forms of beryl are Aquamarine and Emerald . Along with Hydrogen , Helium , and Lithium , some beryllium was created in the Big Bang . The most important commercial sources of beryllium and its compounds are beryl and bertrandite. Beryllium metal did not become readily available until 1957 . Currently, most production of this metal is accomplished by reducing Beryllium Fluoride with Magnesium metal. The price on the US market for vacuum-cast beryllium ingots was 338 US$ per pound ($745/kg) in 2001. {Link without Title} :BeF2 + Mg → MgF2 + Be ''See also .'' ISOTOPES Of beryllium's 10 Isotope s, only 9Be is stable. Cosmogenic 10Be is produced in the Atmosphere by Cosmic Ray Spallation of Oxygen and Nitrogen . Because beryllium tends to exist in Solution at PH levels less than about 5.5 (and most rainwater has a pH less than 5), it will enter into solution and be transported to the Earth's surface via rainwater. As the Precipitation quickly becomes more Alkaline , beryllium drops out of solution. Cosmogenic 10Be thereby accumulates at the Soil surface, where its relatively long Half-life (1.51 million years) permits a long residence time before decaying to 10 B . 10Be and its daughter products have been used to examine Soil Erosion , Soil Formation from Regolith , the development of Lateritic Soils , as well as variations in Solar Activity and the age of Ice Core s. The fact that 7Be and 8Be are unstable has profound cosmological consequences as it means that elements heavier than beryllium could not be produced by nuclear fusion in the Big Bang . Moreover, the nuclear energy levels of 8Be are such that carbon can be produced within stars, thus making life possible. (See Triple-alpha Process and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ). The shortest-lived known isotope of beryllium is 13Be which decays through Neutron Emission . It has a half-life of 2.7 × 10-21 seconds. 6Be also is also very short-lived with a half-life of 5.0 × 10-21 seconds. PRECAUTIONS Beryllium and its salts are Toxic substances and potentially Carcinogen ic. Chronic Berylliosis is a pulmonary and systemic granulomatous disease caused by exposure to beryllium. Acute beryllium disease in the form of chemical pneumonitis was first reported in Europe in 1933 and in the United States in 1943. Cases of chronic berylliosis were first described in 1946 among workers in plants manufacturing Fluorescent Lamp s in Massachusetts. Chronic berylliosis resembles Sarcoidosis in many respects, and the differential diagnosis is often difficult. Although the use of beryllium compounds in fluorescent lighting tubes was discontinued in 1949, potential for exposure to beryllium exists in the nuclear and aerospace industries and in the refining of beryllium metal and melting of beryllium-containing alloys, the manufacturing of electronic devices, and the handling of other beryllium-containing material. Early researchers tasted beryllium and its various compounds for sweetness in order to verify its presence. Modern diagnostic equipment no longer necessitates this highly risky procedure and no attempt should be made to ingest this substance. Beryllium and its compounds should be handled with great care and special precautions must be taken when carrying out any activity which could result in the release of beryllium dust ( Lung Cancer is a possible result of prolonged exposure to beryllium laden dust). This substance can be handled safely if certain procedures are followed. No attempt should be made to work with beryllium before familiarization with correct handling procedures. HEALTH EFFECTS Can be harmful if inhaled. The effects depend on period of exposure. If beryllium air levels are high enough (greater than 1000 µg/m³), an acute condition can result, called acute beryllium disease, which resembles pneumonia. Occupational and community air standards are effective in preventing most acute lung damage. Long term exposure to beryllium can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Some people (1-15%) become sensitive to beryllium. These individuals may develop an inflammatory reaction in the respiratory system. This condition is called chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and can occur many years after exposure to higher than normal levels of beryllium (greater than 0.2 µg/m³). This disease causes fatigue, weakness, and can cause difficulty in breathing. It can result in anorexia, weight loss, and may also lead to right-side heart enlargement and heart disease in advanced cases. Some people who are sensitized to beryllium may not have any symptoms. The general population is unlikely to develop acute or chronic beryllium disease because ambient air levels of beryllium are normally very low (0.00003-0.0002 µg/m³). Swallowing beryllium has not been reported to cause effects in humans because very little beryllium is absorbed from the stomach and intestines. Ulcers have been seen in dogs ingesting beryllium in the diet. Beryllium contact with skin that has been scraped or cut may cause Rash es or ulcers. The United States Department Of Health And Human Services (DHHS) and the International Agency For Research On Cancer (IARC) have determined that beryllium is a human carcinogen. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that beryllium is a probable human carcinogen. The EPA has estimated that lifetime exposure to 0.04 µg/m³ beryllium can result in a one in a thousand chance of developing cancer. There are no studies on the health effects of children exposed to beryllium. It is likely that the health effects seen in children exposed to beryllium will be similar to the effects seen in adults. It is unknown whether children differ from adults in their susceptibility to beryllium. It is unclear whether beryllium is Teratogenic . Beryllium can be measured in the urine and blood. The amount of beryllium in blood or urine may not indicate time or quantity of exposure. Beryllium levels can also be measured in lung and skin samples. Another blood test, the blood beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), identifies beryllium sensitization and has predictive value for CBD. Typical levels of beryllium that industries may release into the air are of the order of 0.01 µg/m³, averaged over a 30-day period, or 2 µg/m³ of workroom air for an 8-hour work shift. SEE ALSO REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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