Question

What are two elements that would have properties similar to beryllium?

Answer 1

In the periodic table some elements have similar properties with others and those elements situated in the periodic table diagonally. Therefore the relation between the elements which are situated diagonally is called diagonal relationship.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to find the two elements which have properties similar to beryllium.
- Means we have to find the two elements which have the same chemical and physical properties like beryllium.
- In the periodic table the elements which are in diagonal relationship with beryllium are magnesium and aluminum.
- The proof for this is that all three elements beryllium, magnesium and aluminum are shiny in nature.
- Not only shining other properties like color, hardness, reaction with water and reaction with oxygen are also the same.
- The physical and chemical properties of these elements are as follows.

Properties	Beryllium	Magnesium	Aluminium
Appearance	Shiny	Shiny	Shiny
Hardness	Soft	Soft	Soft
Reaction with oxygen	$Be{{(OH)}_{2}}$	$Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}$	-
Reaction with water	BeO	MgO	$A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}$

- Not only the above mentioned properties few more similar properties are also present like reaction with acids and reaction with base.
Therefore the chemical elements which are having similar properties with beryllium are magnesium and aluminium.

Note:
The elements beryllium, magnesium and aluminium are going to react with acids slowly due to the presence of the oxide film on their surface and the oxide film is formed due to the oxidation of the surface of these metals with oxygen.