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How does the hardness of beryllium compare with that of barium?
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alkaline-earth metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
Beryllium and barium are both alkaline-earth metals, but they differ significantly in their physical hardness. Beryllium is sufficiently hard that it is capable of scratching glass. In contrast, barium is much softer, being described as only slightly harder than lead.12