(Gr. beryllos, beryl; also called Glucinium or Glucinum, Gr. glykys, sweet) Discoveredas the oxide by Vauquelin in beryl and in emeralds in 1798. The metal was isolated in 1828by Wohler and by Bussy independently by the action of potassium on beryllium chloride.

Beryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most important of which arebertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, and phenacite. Aquamarine and emerald are precious formsof beryl. Beryl and bertrandite are the most important commercial sources of the elementand its compounds. Most of the metal is now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride withmagnesium metal. Beryllium metal did not become readily available to industry until 1957.