Beryllium
Beryllium is
a Group 2 element. It is a metal and has a high melting point. At ordinary
temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. Beryllium compounds are very
toxic. Its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin
layer of the oxide. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of the mineral
beryl, [Be3Al2 (SiO3)6].
Its
chemistry is dominated by its tendency to lose an electron to form Be2+. As
this ion is so small it is highly polarizing, to the extent that its compounds
are rather covalent. Its small size means that its complexes tend to be
tetrahedral rather than octahedral.
Web elements.com
No comments:
Post a Comment