Howstuffworks "Light Metals - Encyclopedia Entries"

Learn about Light Metals and get information on topics related to Light Metals.

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> Gaseous Nonmetals
> Metalloids
> Other Metals
> Other Nonmetals
> Rare-Earth Metals
> Transition Metals

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Featured Light Metals Entry

Beryllium, buh RIHL ee uhm, is a rare, light-gray metallic element. Beryllium never occurs in nature as a pure metal. But it is found in bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, phenacite, and other minerals. Beryl and bertrandite are the most important sources of beryllium. The German chemist Friedrich Wohler and the French chemist A. A. Bussy, working independently, isolated the first samples of pure beryllium in 1828. More »

THE LIGHT METALS LIBRARY

Barium

Barium, BAIR ee uhm, is a soft, heavy, silver-colored metal element. The metal itself has few... More >>

Beryllium

Beryllium, buh RIHL ee uhm, is a rare, light-gray metallic element. Beryllium never occurs in... More >>

Cesium

Cesium, SEE zee uhm, is a soft, silvery metallic element. Dissolved cesium salts, such as cesium... More >>

Lithium

Lithium, LIHTH ee uhm, is a soft, silvery-white metallic element, the lightest known metal. It is... More >>

Magnesium

Magnesium, mag NEE shee uhm or mag NEE zhee uhm, a silver-white metal, is the lightest metal that... More >>

Potassium

Potassium, puh TAS ee uhm, is a silvery metallic element. It reacts readily with both oxygen and... More >>

Sodium

Sodium is a silvery-white metallic element that has many important uses. It is a soft metal, and... More >>

Strontium

Strontium, STRON shee uhm, a chemical element, is a soft, silvery metal. It exists as a number of... More >>

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