"Five Elements of the Periodic Table (1)"

1. Beryllium

Beryllium was discovered by Louis-Nicholas Vanquelin during 1798, in France.

Uses: Precious forms of beryl include aquamarine, morganite, and emerald. Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in producing beryllium copper, which is used for springs, electrical contacts, non sparkling tools, and spot-wedding electrodes. It is used in many structural components of the space shuttle and other aerospace craft. Beryllium foil is used in x-ray lithography for making integrated circuits. It is used as a reflector or moderatior in nuclear reactions. Beryllium is used in gyroscopes and computer parts.

2. Lithium

Discovery: 1817, Arfvedson (Sweden)

Uses: Lithium is used in heat transfer applications. It is used as an alloying agent, in synthesizing organic compounds, and is added to glasses and ceramics. Its high electrochemical potential makes it useful for battery anodes. Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are highly hygroscopic, so are used as drying agents. Lithium stearate is used as a high-temperature lubricant. Lithium has medical applications, as well.

Lithium is used extensively in rechargeable battery technology.

Lithium is the only alkali metal that reacts with nitrogen.

Lithium burns red in a flame test.

Lithium was first discovered in the mineral petalite (LiAlSi₄O₁₀).

Lithium is used to create the hydrogen isotope tritium through bombardment of neutrons.

3. Helium

Helium Discovery: Janssen, 1868, some sources say Sir William Ramsey, Nils Langet, P.T. Cleve 1895

Uses: Helium is widely used in cryogenic research because its boiling point is near absolute zero. It is used in the study of superconductivity, as an inert gas shield for arc welding, as a protective gas in growing silicon and germanium crystals and producing titanium and zirconium, for pressuring liquid fuel rockets, for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a cooling medium for nuclear reactors, and as a gas for supersonic wind tunnels. A mixture of helium and oxygen is used as an artificial atmosphere for divers and others working under pressure. Helium is used for filling balloons and blimps.

SOURCES: 

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/beryllium.htm

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/lithium.htm 

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/helium.htm