Adjacent Words

beryllium definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element [syn: beryllium, Be, glucinium, atomic number 4]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek b?ryllion Date: circa 1847 a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic divalent metallic element used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys — see element table

Britannica Concise

Chemical element, lightest of the alkaline earth metals, chemical symbol Be, atomic number 4. It does not occur uncombined in nature but chiefly as the mineral beryl (of which emerald and aquamarine are gemstone varieties). Beryllium metal, particularly in alloys, has many structural and thermal applications; it is used in nuclear reactors. Beryllium has valence 2 in all its compounds, which are generally colorless and taste distinctly sweet. All soluble beryllium compounds are toxic. Beryllium oxide is used in specialized ceramics for nuclear devices, and beryllium chloride is a catalyst for organic reactions.

Dictionary of the Elements

beryllium
Symbol: Be
Atomic number: 4
Atomic weight: 9.0122
Grey metallic element of group 2 of the periodic table. Is toxic and can cause severe lung diseases and dermatitis. Shows high covalent character. It was isolated independently by F. Wohler and A.A. Bussy in 1828.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Chem. a hard white metallic element used in the manufacture of light corrosion-resistant alloys. Usage: Symb.: Be. Etymology: BERYL + -IUM

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Beryllium Be*ryl"li*um, n. [NL.] (Chem.) A metallic element found in the beryl. See Glucinum.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Glucinum Glu*ci"num, n. [Cf. F. glucinium, glycium, fr. Gr. ?, sweet. Cf. Glycerin.] (Chem.) A rare metallic element, of a silver white color, and low specific gravity (2.1), resembling magnesium. It never occurs naturally in the free state, but is always combined, usually with silica or alumina, or both; as in the minerals phenacite, chrysoberyl, beryl or emerald, euclase, and danalite. It was named from its oxide glucina, which was known long before the element was isolated. Symbol Gl. Atomic weight 9.1. Called also beryllium. [Formerly written also glucinium.]