Beryllium carbonate
Encyclopedia
Beryllium carbonate is a chemical compound
with the chemical formula
BeCO3. There are three forms reported, anhydrous
, a tetrahydrate and basic beryllium carbonate. The anhydrous form is reported to be unstable, decomposing to BeO
and carbon dioxide
, and requiring storage under CO2. The tetrahydrate is said to be formed when CO2 is bubbled through a solution of Be(OH)2 and is also reported to be similarly unstable. Basic beryllium carbonate is a mixed salt, which can be prepared by the reaction of beryllium sulfate
and ammonium carbonate
, and contains both carbonate and hydroxide ions, with formula Be2CO3(OH)2. It is believed that in the older literature this is probably what was referred to as beryllium carbonate.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the chemical formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
BeCO3. There are three forms reported, anhydrous
Anhydrous
As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another...
, a tetrahydrate and basic beryllium carbonate. The anhydrous form is reported to be unstable, decomposing to BeO
Beryllium oxide
Beryllium oxide , also known as beryllia, is an inorganic compound with the formula BeO. This colourless solid is a notable electrical insulator with a higher thermal conductivity than any other non-metal except diamond, and actually exceeds that of some metals. As an amorphous solid, beryllium...
and carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
, and requiring storage under CO2. The tetrahydrate is said to be formed when CO2 is bubbled through a solution of Be(OH)2 and is also reported to be similarly unstable. Basic beryllium carbonate is a mixed salt, which can be prepared by the reaction of beryllium sulfate
Beryllium sulfate
Beryllium sulfate is a white crystalline solid. It was first isolated in 1815 by Jons Jakob Berzelius.Beryllium sulfate may be prepared by treating an aqueous solution of any beryllium salt with sulfuric acid, followed by evaporation of the solution and crystallization...
and ammonium carbonate
Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium carbonate is a commercial salt with the chemical formula 2CO3. It is used when crushed as a smelling salt. It can be crushed when needed in order to revive someone who has fainted...
, and contains both carbonate and hydroxide ions, with formula Be2CO3(OH)2. It is believed that in the older literature this is probably what was referred to as beryllium carbonate.