Molecular Structure:

Molecular Formula: Be
Molecular Weight: 9.0122
IUPAC Name: Beryllium
Synonyms of Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7): Beryllium dust ; Beryllium metal ; Beryllium metallic ; Beryllium, metal powder ; Beryllium-9 ; CCRIS 81 ; EINECS 231-150-7 ; Glucinium ; Glucinum ; HSDB 512 ; RCRA waste number P015 ; UNII-OW5102UV6N ; Beryllium [Beryllium and certain beryllium compounds] ; Beryllium and beryllium compounds ; Beryllium and certain beryllium compounds ; Beryllium and compounds ; Beryllium compounds, n.o.s. ; Beryllium compounds, n.o.s. [UN1566] [Poison] ; Beryllium metal [Beryllium and beryllium compounds] ; Beryllium powder ; Beryllium, elemental ; Beryllium, powder ; Beryllium, powder [UN1567] [Poison] ; UN1566 ; UN1567
CAS NO: 7440-41-7
Classification Code: Mutation data ; Tumor data
Melting point: 1278 °C 
Boiling Point: 2970 °C
Density: 1.85 g/mL at 25 °C
Form: powder
Merck: 13,1164
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with acids, bases, oxidizing agents, halogen compounds, halogens, alkali metals.

 Beryllium's chemical similarity to aluminum was probably why beryllium was missed in previous searches. Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7) was discovered by Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin in 1798 as a component of beryl and in emeralds. Friedrich Wöhler and Antoine Bussy independently isolated the metal in 1828 by reacting potassium and beryllium chloride.The name beryllium comes from the Greek β?ρυλλος, bērullos, beryl, from Prakrit veruliya, from Pāli ve?uriya; ] ve?iru or, vi?ar, "to become pale," in reference to the pale semiprecious gemstone beryl. For about 160 years, beryllium was also known as glucinium.

  Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7) is primarily used as a hardening agent in alloys, notably beryllium copper. Because of its relatively high transparency to X-rays and other ionizing radiation types, beryllium also has a number of uses as filters and windows for radiation and particle physics experiments. It has been used in rocket nozzles and is a significant component of planned space telescopes. Commercial use of beryllium metal presents technical challenges due to the toxicity of beryllium-containing dusts.

The extraction of beryllium from its compounds is very difficult. Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7) metal did not become readily available until 1957. Currently, most is produced by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal.BeF₂ + Mg → MgF₂ + Be

NTP 10th Report on Carcinogens. IARC Cancer Review: Group 1 IMEMDT    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man . 58 (1993),p. 41.(World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer,Lyon, France.: ) (Single copies can be ordered from WHO Publications Centre U.S.A., 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210) ; Human Sufficient Evidence IMEMDT    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man . 58 (1993),p. 41.(World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer,Lyon, France.: ) (Single copies can be ordered from WHO Publications Centre U.S.A., 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210) ; Animal Sufficient Evidence IMEMDT    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man . 1 (1972),p. 17.(World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer,Lyon, France.: ) (Single copies can be ordered from WHO Publications Centre U.S.A., 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210) ; Animal Sufficient Evidence IMEMDT    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man . 23 (1980),p. 143.(World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer,Lyon, France.: ) (Single copies can be ordered from WHO Publications Centre U.S.A., 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210) ; Animal Sufficient Evidence IMEMDT    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man . 58 (1993),p. 41.(World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer,Lyon, France.: ) (Single copies can be ordered from WHO Publications Centre U.S.A., 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210) . Beryllium and its compounds are on the Community Right-To-Know List. Reported in EPA TSCA Inventory.

Confirmed carcinogen with experimental carcinogenic, neoplastigenic, and tumorigenic data. A deadly poison by intravenous route. Human systemic effects by inhalation: lung fibrosis, dyspnea, and weight loss. Human mutation data reported. See also BERYLLIUM COMPOUNDS. A moderate fire hazard in the form of dust or powder, or when exposed to flame or by spontaneous chemical reaction. Slight explosion hazard in the form of powder or dust. Incompatible with halocarbons. Reacts incandescently with fluorine or chlorine. Mixtures of the powder with CCl₄ or trichloroethylene will flash or spark on impact. When heated to decomposition in air it emits very toxic fumes of BeO. Reacts with Li and P.
Hazard Codes of Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7): T,T+
Risk Statements:
R20: Harmful by inhalation. 
R23: Toxic by inhalation. 
R25: Toxic if swallowed. 
R26: Very toxic by inhalation. 
R36/37/38: Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin. 
R43: May cause sensitization by skin contact. 
R49: May cause cancer by inhalation.
Safety Statements:
S45: In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label whenever possible.) 
S53: Avoid exposure - obtain special instructions before use.
 

OSHA PEL: TWA 0.002 mg(Be)/m³; STEL 0.005 mg(Be)/m³/30M; CL 0.025 mg(Be)/m³
ACGIH TLV: TWA 0.002 mg(Be)/m³; Confirmed Human Carcinogen; (Proposed: TWA 0.0002 mg(Be)/m³ (sensitizer); Confirmed Human Carcinogen)
DFG MAK: DFG TRK: Animal Carcinogen, Suspected Human Carcinogen. Grinding of beryllium metal and alloys: 0.005 mg/m³ calculated as beryllium in that portion of dust that can possibly be inhaled; other beryllium compounds: 0.002 mg/m³ calculated as beryllium in that portion of dust that can possibly be inhaled
NIOSH REL: CL not to exceed 0.0005 mg(Be)/m³
DOT Classification:  6.1; Label: Poison (UN 1566); DOT Class: 6.1; Label: Poison, Flammable Solid (UN 1567)

For occupational chemical analysis use NIOSH: Beryllium, 7102; Elements, 7300.

A bivalent element, Beryllium (CAS NO.7440-41-7) is found naturally only combined with other elements in minerals. The free element is a steel-grey, strong, lightweight brittle alkaline earth metal. Beryllium is a relatively rare element in both the Earth and the universe, because it is not formed in conventional stellar nucleosynthesis, but rather during the Big Bang, and later from the action of cosmic rays on interstellar dust.