Question

What is the structure of the $BeC{l}_2$ molecule in a gaseous and solid state?

Answer 1

Beryllium chloride is covalent in nature. Beryllium has two empty orbitals after it forms covalent bonds with chlorine atoms.

The structure of $BeC{l}_2$ in solid-state is a polymeric chain structure and each Be atom is surrounded by four Cl atoms. Two Cl atoms are covalently bonded and two are bonded by coordinate bonds.

The gaseous/vapour state is different from the solid state.

$BeC{l}_2$ tends to form a chloro-bridged dimer at temperatures below 1200 K and dissociates into a linear monomer at high temperatures of the order of above 1200 K.

The Structure of $BeC{l}_2$ in solid state



Structure of $BeC{l}_2$ in vapour state