Beryllium oxide, also known by its chemical name Beryllia and IUPAC name Oxoberyllium is an odorless inorganic compound represented by the formula BeO ^{[1, 2]}. It naturally occurs as a rare whitish mineral bromellite ^[1]. Being one of the most chemically stable oxides, BeO can resist liquid metal attack and carbon reduction at high temperatures ^[3].

Beryllium Oxide Identification
CAS Number	1304-56-9 [4]
PubChem CID	14775 [1]
ChemSpider ID	14092 [2]
ChEBI	CHEBI:62842 [5]
EC Number	215-133-1 [2]
RTECS Number	DS4025000 [1]
UN Number	1566 [1]
InChI Key	LTPBRCUWZOMYOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N [1]

How is Beryllium Oxide Prepared

Beryllium oxide can be made by calcining (heating at high temperatures in the presence of oxygen or air) beryllium carbonate ^[6]:

BeCO₃ → BeO + CO₂

Dehydrating beryllium hydroxide at 400 °C also produces the white powdery beryllium oxide ^[7]:

Be(OH) → BeO + HO

Powdered beryllium metal is burned in air to make a mixture of beryllium oxide and beryllium nitride ^[8]:

1. 2Be + O₂ → 2BeO
2. 3Be + N₂ → Be₃N₂

Properties and Characteristics of Beryllium Oxide

General Properties
Molar Mass/Molecular Weight	25.011 g/mol [1]
Physical Properties
Color and Appearance	White crystalline powder [1, 6]
Melting Point	2507 °C, 4545 °F [6]
Boiling Point	3900 °C, 7052 °F [6]
Density	2.9 g cm-3 [6]
State of matter at room temperature (solid/liquid/gas)	Solid [1]
Solubility	Slowly soluble in alkali hydroxides and concentrated acids [2]
Solubility in Water	Insoluble (0.00002 g/100 mL) [2]
Thermal Conductivity (at room temperature)	264 W/K.m [1]
Heat Capacity	1050 J/kg.K [6]
Chemical Properties
Acid or Base	Amphoteric compound (reacts both as an acid and a base) [9]
Atomic Properties
Crystal Structure	Hexagonal wurtzite [1]

What is it Used for

• Making high-technology ceramics, electrical insulators, electronic heat sinks, gyroscopes, rocket nozzle crucibles, and military armor vehicle because of its high stability ^[1].
• Constructing radomes, antennae, and windows in microwave devices since it is transparent to microwaves ^[1].
• Producing automotive ignition systems, high-density electrical circuits, radar electronic-countermeasure system, thermocouple tube, and laser structural components ^[1].

Beryllium Oxide Health Hazards and Poisoning

Beryllium oxide, in its powdered form, has carcinogenic properties and should be handled with extreme caution ^{[1, 10]}. It can cause severe poisoning if swallowed and inhaled ^[1]. Breathing beryllium oxide fumes may irritate the lungs, nose, and throat ^[10]. High exposure to BeO can cause cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia with fever, bronchitis, and cancer ^{[1, 10]}. Contact with beryllium oxide dust can cause irritation of skin and inflammation of eyes ^[1]. Symptoms of beryllium disease include fatigue, anorexia, and a dramatic weight loss ^[1].

References
1. Beryllium Oxide (Compound) – Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Beryllium Oxide – Chemspider.com
3. Beryllium Oxide – Americanberyllia.com
4. Beryllium Oxide – Americanelements.com
5. CHEBI:62842 – beryllium oxide – Ebi.ac.uk
6. Beryllium Carbonate – Americanelements.com
7. Beryllium Hydroxide – Revolvy.com
8. Beryllium: reaction of elements – Webelements.com
9. Amphoteric Behavior – Chem.libretexts.org
10. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet – Beryllium Oxide – Nj.gov