Beryllium Facts for Kids

Beryllium - Periodic Table of Elements
  • Name: Beryllium
  • Symbol: Be
  • Atomic Number: 4
  • Atomic Weight: 9.012182 u
  • Period: 2
  • Group: 2

26 Beryllium Facts for Kids

  1. Beryllium is a chemical element on the periodic table.
  2. Beryllium is a lightweight and brittle hard metal.
  3. Beryllium has a white-gray metallic color in its pure form.
  4. The symbol for beryllium is Be.
  5. The atomic number for beryllium is 4.
  6. The standard atomic weight for beryllium is 9.012182 u.
  7. Beryllium is a solid at room temperature.
  8. Beryllium is in the alkaline earth metal element category on the periodic table.
  9. Beryllium is a period 2 chemical element, which is the second row on the periodic table.
  10. Beryllium is a group 2 chemical element, which is the alkaline earth metal group.
  11. Beryllium is in the s-block on the periodic table of elements.
  12. The electron configuration for beryllium is [He] 2s2.
  13. The electrons per shell for beryllium are 2, 2.
  14. Beryllium only has one stable isotope.
  15. The only known stable beryllium isotope is 9Be.
  16. The stable beryllium isotope (9Be) is a primordial isotope.
  17. The melting point for beryllium is 2,349 °F (1,287 °C).
  18. The boiling point for beryllium is 4,476 °F (2,469 °C).
  19. Beryllium was discovered by French Chemist Louis N. Vauquelin in 1798.
  20. Beryllium was first isolated in two independent experiments by French chemist Antoine Bussy and German chemist Friedrich Wöhler in 1828.
  21. The Sun in our Solar System has 0.1 parts per billion of beryllium.
  22. The Earth’s crust has between 2 to 6 parts per million of beryllium.
  23. The two primary ores that are used to obtain beryllium are beryl and bertrandite.
  24. The largest producer of beryllium is the United States of America with 170 metric tons produced annually.
  25. Beryllium is used by aerospace industries due to its lightweight and stability in a wide range of temperatures.
  26. Heavy exposure to beryllium and its compounds can cause berylliosis, also known as chronic beryllium disease (CBD).

Additional Resources on the Chemical Element Beryllium

  • Beryllium – Learn more about the chemical element beryllium on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website.
  • Beryllium (Be) – Discover more facts about beryllium on the Royal Society of Chemistry website.
  • Beryllium – Wikipedia – Find more beryllium facts on the Wikipedia website.

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