The+Properties+and+Uses+of+Beryllium

=__The Properties of Beryllium__=

Beryllium is a metal. It is a steel gray color. It is the lightest of all rigid metals and has one of the highest melting points of all the light metals. It's modulus of elasticity is about one third greater than that of steel. It is nonmagnetic. It has a high permeability to X-rays. At normal temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. Beryllium has the ability to scratch glass but it is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide.

=__**The Uses of Beryllium**__=

Beryllium is an alloying agent in producing beryllium copper. Beryllium copper is used for springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, and non-sparking tools. It is a structural material for high-speed aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and communication satellites. Some other things it used in are windshield frames, brake discs, support beams, and other structural components of the space shuttle. Berylium is used in nuclear reactors as a reflective or moderator for it has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section. It is used in many other things such as gyroscopes, computer parts, and instruments where lightness, stiffness, and dimensional stability are required. It is also used in nuclear work and ceramic applications.