Beryllium chloride

Chembox new
Name = Beryllium chloride
ImageFile = Beryllium-chloride-xtal-3D-balls-A.png IUPACName = Beryllium chloride
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 7787-47-5
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = BeCl₂
MolarMass = 79.9182 g/mol
Appearance = White crystals
Density = 1.9 g/cm³, solid (25°C)
Solubility = 15.1 g/100 mL (20°C)
MeltingPt = 415 °C
BoilingPt = 520°C
Section3 = Chembox Structure
MolShape = Linear
Dipole =

Beryllium chloride is the chemical compound with the formula BeCl₂. The solid is a 1-dimensional polymer consisting of edge-shared tetrahedra. [Wells, A.F. (1984) "Structural Inorganic Chemistry", Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-855370-6.] In contrast, BeF₂ is a 3-dimensional polymer, with a structure akin to that of quartz. In the gas phase, it exists both as a linear monomer and a bridged dimer with two bridging chlorine atoms where the beryllium atom is 3-coordinate.Greenwood&Earnshaw] The linear shape of the monomeric form is as predicted by VSEPR theory. The linear shape contrasts with the monomeric forms of some of the dihalides of the heavier members of group 2, e.g. CaF₂, SrF₂, BaF₂, SrCl₂, BaCl₂, BaBr₂, and BaI₂ which are all non-linear.

BeCl₂ can be prepared by treating Be metal with hydrogen chloride::Be + 2 HCl → BeCl₂ + H₂

It hydrolyses upon contact with water to give the aquo complex, [Be(H₂O)₄] Cl₂. [Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. (2001) "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, ISBN 0-12-352651-5.]

References

External links

* [http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/beryllum/eics1354.htm Beryllium chloride] at IPCS INTOX databank
* [http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C7787475&Units=SI Properties of BeCl₂] from NIST