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Be: 2·2

elements · 4 / 118 · All 118

Be

Beryllium

Z 
4
Mass 
9.012
Lifeforce 
Fire

Light, hard, and transparent to X-rays the way glass is transparent to light. Which is why beryllium sits as the window in every great space telescope, the James Webb included. The same metal, toxic as dust, gazes sublimely into space.

A smith's hands strike sparks from glowing embers; the sparks become tiny glowing runners.
Plate · Fire Fire never waits. It ignites whatever it touches.

Beryllium. Element four. Light, hard, transparent to X-rays. The window of every great space telescope, including James Webb. Toxic in dust form, sublime in instruments.

Lab note · Atomic number 4; light, hard, transparent to X-rays.

Tool · Cosmic origin

Where your atoms come from

Be · Star fusion

Forged in the cores of living stars over billions of years of stellar fusion.

14 of the 118 elements share this origin.

Choose a stage: click, or arrow keys. · Cosmic nucleosynthesis · current standard model

Tool · Periodic table

Your place in the system

  • Fire
  • Water
  • Air
  • Earth
  • Source

Click any element to go there.