The valence electrons of lithium and beryllium metal are spherically shaped and easily lost. Once lost, the remaining two electrons revert back to being helium-like electrons except that the kernel, being laden with more charge than helium, sucks in the remaining two even closer. This explains the extremely small sizes of both Li+ and Be2+ and ultimately why lithium is such an effective battery material and why even tinier beryllium is found in many brilliant gemstones.
Things change dramatically when we move on to boron, a favorite element of mine. The electrons actually reach out further and take shapes.
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Why does beryllium tend to be a carcinogen?
ReplyDeleteI can't find much on the molecular basis for this. My guess is that it replaces native dications like calcium, magnesium and zinc and mucks up normal functions of enzymes. It probably goes in a binds to active sites, displacing magnesium and zinc ions. I'll try and look around for more cancer studies and get back to you.
ReplyDeleteThe OLD SEAL Team knife (made by Buck Knives) had an alloy of beryllium and titanium, thus it had no magnetic properties, but guys kept getting tumors in their hands from sharpening the knife and getting tiny shards of metal into their skin. Even that didn't stop the military from continuing the use of the knife until 1991 when the 'great knife-off' at NAVSPECWARGRUONE when the MPK titanium knife (made by Mission Knives) won the competition - beryllium free.
ReplyDeleteOur skin is loaded with zinc and it helps maintain the normal function of our largest organ. Zinc deficiencies cause skin lesions which is still a far cry from tumours. But still, I wonder if zinc could be an antidote for beryllium exposure.
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