Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
beryllium oxide
References
Britannica AI Icon

beryllium oxide

chemical compound
Also known as: beryllia
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Beryllium oxide (BeO) is a white, amorphous compound with high thermal conductivity and electrical resistance. It is derived from beryl ore and primarily used as a high-temperature refractory material, such as in crucibles, and in phosphors for various equipment. Beryllium itself is the lightest alkaline-earth metal, known for its use in metallurgy as a hardening agent and in specialized applications like outer space and nuclear technology. Beryllium oxide, also known as beryllia, has a high melting point and is valued for its unique combination of electrical resistance, dielectric strength, and thermal conductivity, making it useful in ceramic ware for rocket engines and high-temperature nuclear devices.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. beryllium oxide
  2. beryllium

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.