1166. Beryllium Chloride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7787-47-5
BeCl2; mol wt 79.92.
Be 11.28%, Cl 88.72%.

Description and references

Prepn from the elements: Tannenbaum, Inorg. Synth. 5, 22 (1957); from BeO, Cl2 and C: Ehrlich in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry vol. 1, G. Brauer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1963) p 889. Toxicity data: K. W. Cochran et al., Fed. Proc. 9, 264 (1950). Review of beryllium halides: Bell, Adv. Inorg. Chem. Radiochem. 14, 255-332 (1972).

Properties

White to faintly yellow, very deliquesc, orthorhombic crystals or cryst mass. Reported mp ranges from 399.2° to 440°. 399.2° is considered to be the most reliable (Bell). bp 482.3°. Sublimes in vacuo at 300°. d 1.90. Very sol in water with evolution of heat; the aq soln is strongly acid. Sol in alcohol, ether, pyridine, CS2. Insol in benzene, toluene. Keep tightly closed.

Derivative

Tetrahydrate.

Properties

Monoclinic deliquesc platelets. Has been reported to have 4 1/2 H2O: Semenenko, Turova, Russ. J. Inorg. Chem. 10, 42 (1965). LD50 in guinea pigs, rats (mg Be/kg): 63, 0.6 i.p. (Cochran).

Caution

Beryllium and beryllium compounds are listed as known human carcinogens: Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition (PB2005-104914, 2004) p III-32.

Use

Manuf of beryllium. Anhydrous form used as acid catalyst in organic reactions, similar to AlCl3.