Question

The structure of beryllium chloride in the solid state and vapour phase, respectively, are:

Answer 1

Beryllium chloride ${\mathrm{BeCl}}_2$:

• Beryllium chloride is an inorganic compound and it is colourless.
• It is a hygroscopic solid.
• It dissolves in many polar solvents like water.
• The beryllium chloride shows similar properties to aluminium chloride due to the diagonal relationship.
• The beryllium exhibit an $+2$ oxidation state in beryllium chloride.

Structure of beryllium chloride in solid and vapour phase:

• In a solid state, the beryllium chloride exists in polymeric form ${\left({\mathrm{BeCl}}_2\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}$.
• Beryllium chloride is an electron-deficient species, at room temperature, the beryllium chloride forms a coordinate bond wth other molecules of ${\mathrm{BeCl}}_2$forms a polymeric chain.
• In the vapour phase, the beryllium chloride exists as a dimer ${\left({\mathrm{BeCl}}_2\right)}_2$below $1200\mathrm{K}$