Symbol

Be

Atomic Number

4

Atomic Mass

9.012182

Family

Group 2 (Iia) Alkaline Earth Metal Pronunciation

buh-RIL-Lee-um

Overview

Beryllium is the lightest member of the alkaline earth metals family. These metals make up Group 2 (IIA) of the periodic table. They include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. Elements in the same column of the periodic table have similar chemical properties. The periodic table is a chart that shows how the chemical elements are related to each other.

Beryllium was discovered by French chemist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin (1763-1829) in 1798. Vauquelin suggested the name glucinium, meaning "sweet tasting," for the element because the element and some of its compounds have a sweet taste. The name beryllium was adopted officially in 1957.

Beryllium-copper alloys account for about three-quarters of all the beryllium produced. An alloy is made by melting and mixing two or more metals. The mixture has properties different from those of the...