Beryllium

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Beryllium
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General Info

• Has a charge of 2
• Is referred to by two names
• Glucinium from the Greek word sweet
• Beryllium named after the material beryl in
  which it is most commonly found.
• Pure beryllium only occurs naturally in small
  amounts, more commonly found as a compound.
• Most common ore of beryllium is beryl
  (Be3(Al2(SiO3))
• Found in the earths crust, 2 to 10 ppm (parts per
  million). This means it is relatively common
  metal.

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Physical Properties

• State at room temperature - solid
• Steel greyish-white surface
• Density 1.85 g.cm³
• Non-magnetic
• Melting point - 1287C
• Boiling point - 2469C
• Heat capacity 16.443 J-mol ¹.K ¹
• Excellent thermal conductor
• Many of its salts display a sweet taste

• Beryllium oxide (BeO) is a white powder with
  melting point of 2530 C.
• Beryllium chloride (BeCl2) is a white to faintly
  yellow powder, deliquescent, with melting point
  of 399 C and a boiling point of 482 C.
• Beryllium fluoride (BeF2) is a glassy,
  hygroscopic solid with melting point of 545 C.
• Beryllium nitrate (Be(NO3)2) is a white to
  slightly yellow crystals with melting point of 60
  C).

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Chemical Properties

• When left exposed beryllium will quickly react
  with oxygen to form beryllium oxide. This BeO
  from the reaction coats the metal with a layer
  which prevents further oxidization.
• Reacts with acids to form water and hydrogen gas
• Does however, resist attack by nitric acid.
• Solubility of beryllium and its salts vary
• Beryllium chloride, fluoride, nitrate, phosphate
  and sulfate are all solubleBeCl2, BeF2,
  Be(NO3)2, Be3(PO4)2 and BeSO4.
• Other beryllium compounds are either insoluble or
  slightly soluble
• Has one naturally occurring isotope and six other
  radioactive isotopes. These isotopes have no
  commercial use.
• Radioactive isotopes are ones that break apart
  and give off some form of radiation. These
  isotopes are produced when very small particles
  are fired at the atoms.

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Uses

• Extensively used in X-ray machines. Thin sheets
  filter out visible light and only allow x-rays to
  be detected.
• Nuclear industry as a neutron reflector and
  moderator in nuclear reactors. Also used in
  nuclear weapons as a shell to surround the
  plutonium.
• Used in defense and airspace industries. These
  include high-speed aircraft, missile space
  vehicles and communication satellites.
• Liquid fueled rockets have nozzles of pure
  beryllium.
• In telecommunication, tools of beryllium are used
  to tune highly magnetic klystrons.
• Hardening agent in alloys.
• Most commonly beryllium-copper alloys. Three
  quarters of beryllium produced goes towards this
  process. This material has high
  electrical/thermal conductivity, high
  strength/hardness, non-magnetic and good
  corrosion/fatigue resistance. Used in
  spot-welding electrodes, springs, non-sparking
  tools and electrical contacts.
• Beralcast (alloy of beryllium and aluminium) used
  in helicopters and guidance systems as it is 3
  times as stiff yet 25 lighter than aluminium.

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Uses

• Widely used in jewelry.
• Two popular gemstones, emeralds and aquamarines,
  are in fact beryl that have impurities in them.
  Traces of chromium result in a brilliant green,
  and iron as an impurity results in beautiful
  blues.
• Can also be found as a tie tack or clip.
• Used to be used in florescent lighting tubes
  
  (use was discontinued due to health risks
  to workers)
• Used for mirrors and lenses in the James Webb
  Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope, as
  the mirrors will have to face temperatures of
  -240 C. The beryllium doesnt contract and
  deform as much as glass when presented with these
  temperatures.

James Webb Space Telescope
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History

• The common compound beryl was known in ancient
  Egypt
• 1797 - French mineralogist Rene-Just Hauy was
  studying beryl and emeralds and deduced that they
  were nearly identical. He asked his friend Lois
  Nicolas Vauquelin to determine the chemical
  composition.
• In 1798, after performing many chemical tests,
  Vauquelin officially discovered the new material
  and called it glucinium.
• Metal was first isolated in 1828, by Friedrich
  Wohler (German chemist) and Antoine Bussy (French
  chemist). Isolated by
• In 1957 glucinium became officially known as
  beryllium and the metal also became readily
  available for use.

Louis Nicolas Vauquelin
Friedrich Wohler
Antoine Bussy
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History - modern

• 1950 - The Ministry of Metallurgical Industry
  approved the design task for (BeOH)2 commercial
  production
• 1951 - start-up of the experimental shop division
  for (BeOH)2 and BeO production
• 1952 - first (BeOH)2 and BeO samples produced 
• 1955 - construction of Beryllium metal cast
  production started
• 1956 - start-up of pure BeO production site  
• 1958 - partial commissioning of shop 6 (ceramic
  production)
• 1961 - Beryllium metal production site
  construction completed
• 1963 - creation of Be metal products site
• 1966 - first metal produced by powder metallurgy
  method
• 1971 - powder production site commissioned
  (Building 662)
• 1973 - Beryllium under pressure processing site
  commissioned (Building 602)
• 1990 - accident at the Beryllium production
  (Building 662). Full conservation of the
  Beryllium production started
• 2000 - Beryllium metal production
  started-upQuality assurance system at the
  Beryllium production was certified in accordance
  with ISO-9002
• 2001 - Hydrometallurgy production for technical
  grade (BeOH)2 restoredCreation of Beryllium
  Copper production.

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Extraction

• Through the use of electrolysis with BeCl2, purer
  forms beryllium can be produced. Small amounts of
  sodium chloride is added as BeCl2 conducts
  poorly.
• The mineral beryl Be3Al2(SiO3)6 is roasted with
  sodium hexafluorosilicate (Na2SiF6 ) at
  temperatures of 700C to form beryllium oxide.
• Beryllium ores are converted to beryllium oxide
  (BeO) or beryllium hydroxide (Be(OH)2), these are
  then converted to beryllium chloride (BeCl2) or
  beryllium fluoride (BeF2). 1) The pure metal is
  then isolated through an electrical current to
  form beryllium and chloride.
• BeCl2 electric current ? Be Cl2
• OR 2) a reaction with magnesium at high
  temperatures, 1300 C which isolates the
  beryllium and also forms magnesium chloride.
• BeF2 Mg ? MgF2 Be. BeCl2 Mg
  ? MgCl2 Be
• The element can be further purified by vacuum
  melting.-Vacuum induction melting is a process
  for melting metal under vacuum conditions using
  electromagnetic induction. It works by creating
  electrical eddy currents in the metal which heats
  the "charge" to melt it. (http//en.wikipedia.org/
  wiki/Vacuum_Induction_Melting)

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Risks

• Very toxic, especially in powder form
• Can cause serious problems when inhaled
• Exposure to small amounts can lead to respiratory
  system diseases (bronchitis and lung cancer).
• Berylliosis (common effect of beryllium)
• Persistent lung disorder, which, left unchecked,
  can damage other organs such as the heart. People
  have been known to die.
• Chronic Beryllium Disorder (CBD) allergic
  reaction to Be
• Symptoms include weakness, tiredness, persistent
  coughing (normally with blood), rapid heart rate
  and breathing problems. Affected members can
  develop anorexia and blueness of the hands and
  feet. Those suffering from serious CBD and left
  untreated can die.