Beryllium nitrate, also known as beryllium dinitrate, is an ionic

Ionic compound

In chemistry, an ionic compound is a chemical compound in which ions are held together in a lattice structure by ionic bonds. Usually, the positively charged portion consists of metal cations and the negatively charged portion is an anion or polyatomic ion. Ions in ionic compounds are held together...

 beryllium

Beryllium

Beryllium is the chemical element with the symbol Be and atomic number 4. It is a divalent element which occurs naturally only in combination with other elements in minerals. Notable gemstones which contain beryllium include beryl and chrysoberyl...

 salt of nitric acid

Nitric acid

Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...

 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....

 Be(NO₃)₂. Each formula unit

Formula unit

A formula unit in chemistry is the empirical formula of an ionic or covalent network solid compound used as an independent entity for stoichiometric calculations. It is the lowest whole number ratio of ions represented in an ionic compound...

 is composed of one Be²⁺ cation and two NO₃^-

Nitrate

The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...

 anions.

Hazards

Beryllium nitrate is a toxic chemical, like all other beryllium compounds. It is also an irritant in small doses. When burned, it gives off irritating or toxic fumes. However, when massive short-term exposure occurs, acute pneumonitis

Chemical pneumonitis

Aspiration pneumonitis or chemical pneumonitis is inflammation of the lung caused by aspirating or inhaling irritants. It is sometimes called a "chemical pneumonia", though it is not infectious...

 can set in, but symptoms do not manifest themselves for 3 days.

Preparation

Beryllium nitrate can be prepared by reacting beryllium hydroxide

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. When alkali is added to beryllium salt solutions the α-form is formed. If this left to...

 in nitric acid

Nitric acid

Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...

.

Be(OH)₂ + 2 HNO₃ → Be(NO₃)₂ + 2 H₂O