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Why is beryllium useful in X-ray equipment?
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alkaline-earth metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
Beryllium is highly valued in the construction of X-ray equipment primarily due to its low atomic weight. This property allows the metal to transmit X-rays 17 times more effectively than aluminum, making it an ideal material for the windows of X-ray tubes.1
Additionally, beryllium oxide is utilized in X-ray equipment as a component in phosphors.2