Beryllium is the source of emeralds and aquamarines.

In fact, they are active in a wide range of fields, from the medical field and space exploration to the world of music.

This article will explain the properties and characteristics of beryllium and how it is actually used in society.

Please see to the end of this article.

Properties and characteristics of beryllium

It is the main element that makes up beryl (green columnar stone) and changes color depending on the circumstances.
Light blue beryl is known as aquamarine and green beryl is known as emerald and is widely known as a gemstone.

In addition, natural beryllium is a metal, which is toxic.
If the dust of beryllium is inadvertently inhaled, it may damage lung function. (Items worn as jewelry do not seem to be a problem unless they are polished.)

Incidentally, beryllium is a lightweight and high strength element.
This property is used for a variety of things in society.

Let us now look at some specific examples.

How beryllium is used in society

Lightweight and high-strength beryllium is used in ‘radiography’, ‘space telescopes’ and ‘speaker reflectors’.

Beryllium is useful for “X-ray (photography)”

Beryllium is used in a section called the X-ray emission window because of its ability to pass X-rays.

Its permeability is said to be 17 times higher than aluminum and 6-10 times higher than the radiating windows used in the past, making beryllium an essential part of modern radiography.

Beryllium is useful for “space telescope”

Space telescopes are used to observe celestial and other objects in space.
So where is beryllium used in this space telescope?

The answer is the reflector.

Beryllium is used for space telescope because it is a lightweight, high-strength substance, an element that can withstand space.

The lighter weight means that there is more fuel to spare, and beryllium can withstand the violent shocks of launch.

Beryllium is useful for “Speaker diaphragm”

Light and hard beryllium is also useful in the world of music.
Beryllium can reproduce higher tones than other diaphragm materials, allowing you to enjoy music with good sound quality.

Recently, beryllium has been used not only in speakers but also in the diaphragms of earphones. ( The price is 198,000 yen ($1300).

History of beryllium

Chemical symbol: Be
Name：Beryllium

Beryllium is an element derived from green columnar stone, hence the Greek word beryl, meaning green columnar stone.

However, the name was different when it was first discovered.
The name at the time was Glucinium, which means sweet in Greek.

It originated from the sweet taste of beryllium when it was licked… Huh? Wasn’t beryllium toxic?

Summary

In this article, we discussed the following points

• Beryllium is a light, strong metal that is toxic.
• Elements needed in ‘radiography’, ‘space telescopes’ and ‘speaker diaphragms’.
• Derived from the Greek word beryl meaning ‘green columnar stone’.

If you are interested in other elements, please see the following article for a summary.