The Periodic Table in Art - Beryllium

Beryllium was used in ancient Egypt in jewelry and headdresses.  It is the same mineral compound as emeralds.  Slightly transparent to x-rays, it is used to make windows for the x-ray tubes.  Beryllium can be mixed with copper to make beryllium bronze, which is wear-resistant so it is good to use for mechanical devices.  It has a sugary taste, but it is poisonous. 

I was interested by the fact that beryllium is poisonous if ingested.  Scientists used to taste elements for beryllium because it is sweet, but they did not know that it is actually poisonous.  So, I made a skull and crossbones with the abbreviation for beryllium in its mouth.  The eyes are green sequins because beryllium is the same mineral as emeralds.  My media was paper collage on green cardstock with sequins.