Beryllium Oxide (Glucina): Beryl Fused with Potash, Alum Crystallised Out, Glucina Parted in Ammonium Carbonate (Roscoe 1913)

Beryl is a silicate of beryllium and aluminium. Fusing with potash and taking up in sulphuric acid lets the silica be filtered off and most of the aluminium crystallise out as alum. Ammonium carbonate then holds the beryllium in solution while iron and alumina drop out, and steam throws down the glucina. Result: glucina (beryllium oxide), a white powder. Beryllium dust is poisonous to breathe; keep it damp. Source: Roscoe and Schorlemmer, A Treatise on Chemistry vol. 2 (1913), p. 619. Not given: amounts beyond the potash, and temperatures. Picture drawn by Youblob.