Beryllium

Beryllium.  Hmmm...I don't have much to say about beryllium.  Having spent much of the last 18 years in various laboratories, I've seen a lot of elements, but I've never seen pure beryllium or any of its compounds.  One thing I do know is that it's toxic, so you shouldn't lick it (which, come to think of it, is a good general rule for people who work in laboratories:  "Don't Lick It.")  Also, they use beryllium in alloys with copper to make tools for use where sparks would be a problem.

I just did some research, and found some pictures which neatly demonstrate how different elements can look in their pure state versus what they look like in their compounds.

Here is a sample of pure beryllium:

Looks a bit like a melted metallic turd.  Pretty, huh?  But combine beryllium with some aluminum, silicon, and oxygen atoms, and maybe throw in some chromium, iron, or vanadium impurities, and you get beryl, aquamarine, and emerald:

Ain't science cool?