noun
- Plural of glucinum; the former name for the chemical element beryllium (atomic number 4).
Usage: archaic; chemistry; The term 'glucinum' was used in the 19th century before 'beryllium' became the standard name.
Examples
- Early chemists referred to samples of glucinums when studying the properties of this lightweight metal.
- The periodic table once listed glucinums as an alternative designation for element 4.
- Historical chemistry texts occasionally mention glucinums in their discussions of alkaline earth metals.