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Beryllium comes from the Greek word beryllos, which means "beryl." It was first discovered as an oxide by L.-N. Vauquelinin in emeralds in 1798. It is most commonly produced by a reduction of beryllium fluoride with magnesium at 1300°C. It is often used in alloys used to make aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites.
Beryllium is steel grey in color and has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. It is nonmagnetic and has good thermal conductivity.
Beryllium and its salts smell and taste sweet but are highly toxic. Beryllium should not be ingested.
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