noun
beryllium
buh-RIL-ee-um/bəˈrɪliəm/
A light, hard, toxic metallic chemical element.
The laboratory keeps the toxic beryllium sample securely enclosed.
Etymology
Beryllium is named for beryl because the element occurs in that mineral. It was first identified in emerald, a green variety of beryl, and received the conventional metallic-element ending -ium.
In context
americium-241 can be coated onto beryllium the Alpha from the americium reacts with the beryllium causing the production of a neutron
More examples
- The alloy contains a small amount of beryllium.
- Engineers value beryllium for its low weight and stiffness.
- The mineral beryl contains beryllium.