Beryllium (Ba)
Atomic number:
4
Atomic weight:
9.01218
Average concentration in ocean:
23 pmol/kg
Residence time:
1000 years
Distribution in ocean
Beryllium has a nutrient-like vertical
profile
. Concentrations are depleted at the surface and increase with depth (
data)
.
Speciation
Beryllium exists in seawater in the +II oxidation state as the BeOH
+
and Be(OH)
2
0
ions.
Residence time
The residence time was estimated from the interocean fractionation of stable
9
Be and radioactive
10
Be (Measures et al., 1996).
Analysis
Beryllium is determined by forming a volatile organic complex followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection.
References