What is a fact about beryllium?
Beryllium is two-thirds the density of aluminum. By weight, beryllium has six times the specific stiffness of steel. Beryllium is non-magnetic. Only three countries, the United States, China, and Kazakhstan currently process beryllium ores and concentrates into beryllium products.
What are 5 uses for beryllium?
Beryllium is alloyed with copper or nickel to make springs, gyroscopes, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes and non-sparking tools, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Other beryllium alloys are used in high-speed aircrafts and missiles, as well as spacecraft and communication satellites.
What are 3 things beryllium is used for?
Beryllium is a silvery-white metal. It is relatively soft and has a low density. Beryllium is used in alloys with copper or nickel to make gyroscopes, springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes and non-sparking tools.
How much beryllium is left in the world?
Total world reserves of beryllium ore are greater than 400,000 tonnes.
Is beryllium flammable?
Beryllium is also classified as flammable. The United Nations classification of beryllium and beryllium compounds for the transport of dangerous goods is “poisonous substance” and, for packing, a “substance presenting medium danger”.
Is beryllium poisonous?
Beryllium is not an element that is crucial for humans; in fact it is one of the most toxic chemicals we know. It is a metal that can be very harmful when humans breathe it in, because it can damage the lungs and cause pneumonia.
Can you eat beryllium?
Swallowing beryllium has not been reported to cause effects in humans because very little beryllium can move from the stomach or intestines into the bloodstream. Ulcers have been seen in dogs ingesting soluble beryllium salts in the diet.
What happens if you eat beryllium?
Health effects of beryllium The most commonly known effect of beryllium is called berylliosis, a dangerous and persistent lung disorder that can also damage other organs, such as the heart. In about 20% of all cases people die of this disease.
Can you touch beryllium?
Direct contact with beryllium fumes or dusts may injure the exposed areas of the body, such as the eyes or the skin. Skin sensitization may also occur. Beryllium is also a known cancer causing substance, with higher levels of lung cancer being reported.
Is beryllium a food?
Beryllium, as a chemical component, is found naturally in some food. The concentration of beryllium in both raw carrots and field corn grown in the United States is less than 25 micrograms (µg) (1 µg=1 millionth of a gram) in a kilogram (kg) of the fresh vegetables.
How strong is beryllium?
The rigidity of beryllium is about 50% greater than that of steel, while its density (1.84 g/cm³) is about 30% less than that of aluminium. The specific rigidity of beryllium is around six times greater than that of any other metal or alloy.