Anomalous Behaviour of

Beryllium

Although beryllium is a Group 2 metal

and has two electrons in its outermost
electron shell, it shows considerable
anomalous behaviour compared to the
rest of Group 2 metals (Mg to Ra).
The compounds of beryllium have
significant covalent character while the
compounds of the other Group 2
elements are ionic.

This is because beryllium atom has a very

high ionisation energy due to the small
atomic size and low screening effect.
Its small atomic size gives it a very high
charge density and high polarising
power. The Be2+ ion distorts the electron
clouds of adjacent anion, giving
substantial covalent character.

Beryllium chloride is a covalent compound

while the other Group 2 chlorides are
ionic. Its covalent nature is clearly
shown by the following properties:

Beryllium chloride is a white solid that

sublimates when heated and is soluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as ether and
benzene.
At room temperature, beryllium chloride exists
as a dimer, Be2Cl4, by forming coordinate
bonds between lone pair electrons on chlorine
atoms and the adjacent beryllium atoms.

 Beryllium chloride is hydrolysed

exothermically by water, liberating acidic,
steamy white fumes of hydrogen chloride gas,
due to the formation of a stronger Be-O bond.
BeCl2(s) + 2H2O(l)

Be(OH)2(s) + 2HCl(g)

All the other ionic chlorides in Group 2

dissolve in water without any observable
change.

Beryllium chloride does not conduct

electricity even in molten state.

This is because beryllium has a higher charge

density and polarising power due to its
relatively small ionic radius as compared to
magnesium. As such, the electron cloud of
Chlorine is distorted and there is a high
degree of covalent character in the ionic bond
as compared to Magnesium Chloride. This
means that there are hardly any free
delocalised electrons in Beryllium Chloride to
act as mobile charge carriers when molten,
and hence the poor electrical conductivity.

Beryllium oxide and beryllium hydroxide

are amphoteric. This indicates that the
ionic oxides have significant covalent
characteristics.
The other Group 2 elements form basic,
ionic oxides and hydroxides that react
with acids only.

The equations for the reactions with acid

and alkali are as follows:
(a) BeO(s) + 2H+(aq)

Be2+(aq) + H2O(l)

BeO(s) +2OH-(aq) +H2O(l)

(b) Be(OH)2(s) + 2H+(aq)

Be(OH)2(aq) + 2OH-(aq)

[Be(OH)4]2-(aq)

Be2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)
[Be(OH)4]2-(aq)

Beryllium can form complexes such as [Be(OH)4]2- and

[BeF4]2-. This is due to the high charge and small size
of Be2+ ion. The other Group 2 elements rarely form
complexes.