Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Beryllium

Atomic number 4 means that every Beryllium nucleus contains 4 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Beryllium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 4 means that every Beryllium nucleus contains 4 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Beryllium.

Beryllium (Be) is chemical element 4. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in aerospace, X-ray windows and alloys.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 4 means that every Beryllium nucleus contains 4 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Beryllium.

Keep exploring

→ Beryllium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

4BeBeryllium
Beryllium · Be · Z = 4

Beryllium (Be) is chemical element 4. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Beryllium (Be) is chemical element 4. It belongs to the alkaline-earth metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in aerospace, X-ray windows and alloys.

What its position in the table tells us

Beryllium sits in period 2, group 2 and the S block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.