Beryllium (Be) VS Magnesium (Mg)
A definitive side-by-side comparison of two essential element profiles.
VS
Main Differences
Beryllium (Be) is an element in the alkaline earth metals category with an atomic number of 4. Magnesium (Mg) is an element in the alkaline earth metals category with an atomic number of 12.
Beryllium (Be) is 1.1x denser than Magnesium (Mg). Furthermore, Beryllium (Be) melts at a significantly higher temperature than Magnesium (Mg) (a difference of 637.0 Kelvin).
Where do the names come from?
Be Beryllium (Be) Naming History
The name Beryllium is derived from the Greek name for beryl, ''beryllo''.
Mg Magnesium (Mg) Naming History
The name Magnesium is derived from Magnesia, a district of Eastern Thessaly in Greece.
Related Comparisons
Compare
Beryllium (Be)
Magnesium (Mg)
Category
Alkaline Earth Metals
Alkaline Earth Metals
Atomic Number
4
12
Symbol
Be
Mg
Atomic Mass
9.012 u
24.305 u
Group
2
2
Period
2
3
Block
s-block
s-block
Standard State (at 20°C)
solid
solid
Density
1.85 g/cm³
1.738 g/cm³
Melting Point (°C)
1287°C
650°C
Melting Point (°F)
2349°F
1202°F
Melting Point (K)
1560 K
923 K
Boiling Point (°C)
2468°C
1090°C
Boiling Point (°F)
4474°F
1994°F
Boiling Point (K)
2742 K
1363 K
Year Discovered:
1798
1755
CAS Number
7440-41-7
7439-95-4
Origin of Name:
The name is derived from the Greek name for beryl, ''beryllo''.
The name is derived from Magnesia, a district of Eastern Thessaly in Greece.