Beryllium hydroxide


Beryllium hydroxide, Be2, is an amphoteric hydroxide, dissolving in both acids and alkalis. Industrially, it is produced as a by-product in the extraction of beryllium metal from the ores beryl and bertrandite. The natural pure beryllium hydroxide is rare or very rare. When alkali is added to beryllium salt solutions the α-form is formed. If this left to stand or boiled, the rhombic β-form precipitates. This has the same structure as zinc hydroxide, Zn2, with tetrahedral beryllium centers.

Reactions

Beryllium hydroxide is difficult to dissolve in water. With alkalis it dissolves to form the tetrahydroxoberyllate/tetrahydroxidoberyllate anion, 2−. With sodium hydroxide solution:
With acids, beryllium salts are formed. For example, with sulfuric acid, H2SO4, beryllium sulfate is formed:
Beryllium hydroxide dehydrates at 400 °C to form the soluble white powder, beryllium oxide:
Further heating at higher temperature produces acid insoluble BeO.