Question

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

• A. dimeric and dimeric
• B. chain and chain
• C. dimeric and chain
• D. chain and dimeric

Answer 1

The correct option is D chain and dimeric

The structures of beryllium chloride in the solid state and vapour phase, respectively are chain and dimeric. In vapour phase at above ${900}^{\circ }\text{C}$. $BeC{l}_2$ is monomeric having a linear structure $Cl-Be-Cl$. The bonding in $BeC{l}_2$ is covalent and $Be$ atom accommodates 2 + 2 = 4 electrons in the two $sp-$ hybrid orbitals. Below ${900}^{\circ }\text{C}$, beryllium chloride in vapour phase exists as a mixture of monomer $BeC{l}_2$ and dimer $B{e}_{2}C{l}_4$