This paper describes the results of a systematic quantitative study of the combustion of single laser-ignited beryllium droplets burning in mixtures of oxygen/nitrogen. Nitrogen is shown here to raise the ignition limit and retard the combustion relative to oxygen/argon. Nitrogen-induced fragmentation of beryllium droplets is demonstrated for the first time. The results of these studies are compared with earlier quantitative data on beryllium droplets burning in oxygen/argon and it is shown that the rates, mechanisms and nature of the debris from burning are all affected by environmental species. The significant contribution of condensed phase processes occurring at the droplet surface to the overall combustion reveal clearly the inadequacy of a vapor phase combustion model for beryllium.