Name       : Beryllium
Symbol     : Be
Atomic #   : 4
Atom weight: 9.01218
Melting P. : 1278
Boiling P. : 2970
Oxidation  : +2
Pronounced : beh-RIL-i-em
From       : Greek beryllos, "beryl" (a mineral)
Identified : Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin, 1798
Appearance : Hard, brittle, steel-gray metal
Note       : Once known as glucinum, sweet tasting.

[Properties]

  Beryllium metal is hard, brittle and steely gray.  It is lighter than
aluminum, but resembles it in many other ways.  For example, an oxide
coating develops rapidly on the metallic surfaces, thus preventing further
oxidation.
  Beryllium heads the list of Group IIA elements commonly known as the
alkaline-earth metals: magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr),
barium (Ba), and radium (Ra).  The common name for this group is derived 
from theories and beliefs that prevailed prior to the early 1800s.  Until
that time, any element that did not obviously look, feel, and behave like
a metal, and could not be dissolved in water was considered an earth
element (from the ancient concept of the elements being earth, fire, and
air).  Any earth element that behaved like a common alkali, such as soda
and potash, was considered an alkaline-earth metal.  These views have
since been abandoned in favor of more correct, precise, and comprehensive
perspectives; nevertheless, the tradition remains alive in the common name
of the Group IIA elements.