The surface of beryllium metal is covered with a thin layer of oxide that helps to protect the metal from attack by air. It does not oxidise in air even at 600∘C. Powdered beryllium metal burns in air to give a mixture of white beryllium oxide, BeO, and beryllium nitride, Be3N2. Chemical reactions are as follows 2Be(s)+O2(g)⟶2BeO(s) (beryllium oxide) 3Be(s)+N2(g)⟶Be3N2(s) (beryllium nitride)