Beryllium

Beryllium: the essentials

 Brief description: beryllium is a Group 2 (IIA) element. It is a metal and has a high melting point. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. Beryllium compounds are very toxic. Its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of the mineral beryl, [Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆].

Its chemistry is dominated by its tendency to lose an electron to form Be²⁺. As this ion is so small it is highly polarising, to the extent that its compounds are rather covalent. Its small size means that its complexes tend to be tetrahedral rahter than octahedral.

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Isolation

Isolation: beryllium metal is available commercially and so would never normally be made in the laboratory. Its extraction from ores is complex. The mineral beryl, [Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆] is the most important source of beryllium. It is roasted with sodimu hexafluorosilicate, Na₂SiF₆, at 700°C to form beryllium fluoride. This is water soluble and the beryllium may be precipitated as the hydroxide Be(OH)₂ by adjustment of the pH to 12.

Pure beryllium may be obtained by electrolysis of molten BeCl₂ containing some NaCl. The salt is added since the molten BeCl₂ conducts very poorly. Another method involves the reduction of beryllium fluoride with magnesium at 1300°C.

BeF₂ + Mg → MgF₂ + Be

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