More precious than emeralds? A metal that is lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel, beryllium is a critical material of vital importance to a plethora of modern technologies.
While studying the chemical composition of emeralds in 1798, French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin discovered the element beryllium. The metal was first isolated in 1828, revealing the interesting and useful properties of the silver-grey material. Beryllium is never found in its metallic elemental form in nature.