Beryllium Oxide

Beryllium oxide, also known as beryllia, is a ceramic material that consists of beryllium and oxygen atoms. It has a high melting point of 2570°C and excellent thermal conductivity, making it useful in applications that require high temperature stability and efficient heat transfer.

Beryllium oxide is often used as a substrate for electronic devices due to its low dielectric constant and high insulating properties. It can also be used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors and as a refractory material in furnace linings and crucibles.

However, beryllium oxide is highly toxic when inhaled or ingested, and can cause a serious lung disease called chronic beryllium disease. Therefore, strict safety protocols must be followed when handling this material.

In terms of its crystal structure, beryllium oxide has a hexagonal close-packed (HCP) arrangement of atoms, with each beryllium ion surrounded by six oxygen ions in a distorted octahedral configuration. The lattice parameter for the HCP structure is approximately 2.77 Å.

Overall, beryllium oxide is a versatile ceramic material with many important applications, but its toxicity requires careful handling and disposal procedures.