Beryllium carbonate is a

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

with the

chemical formula In chemistry, a chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbols, ...

Structures

There are three forms reported,

anhydrous A substance is anhydrous if it contains no water. Many processes in chemistry can be impeded by the presence of water; therefore, it is important that water-free reagents and techniques are used. In practice, however, it is very difficult to achie ...

, a tetrahydrate and basic beryllium carbonate. The anhydrous form is reported to be unstable, decomposing to

BeO BEO, Beo, BeO or ''variation'' may refer to: ;BEO * Banquet event order * Belmont Airport IATA code * Book entry only * Beyond Earth Orbit ;Beo * ''Beo'', a variant of the name of the Anglo-Saxon god Beowa. * Beo language, an African language ...

and

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is transpar ...

, and requiring storage under .Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) ''Inorganic Chemistry'', Elsevier The tetrahydrate is said to be formed when is bubbled through a solution of and is also reported to be similarly unstable.

Preparation

Basic beryllium carbonate is a mixed salt, which can be prepared by the reaction of

beryllium sulfate Beryllium sulfate normally encountered as the tetrahydrate, e(H2O)4O4 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 many beryllium salts ...

and

ammonium carbonate Ammonium carbonate is a salt with the chemical formula (NH4)2CO3. Since it readily degrades to gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide upon heating, it is used as a leavening agent and also as smelling salt. It is also known as baker's ammonia and is ...

, and contains both carbonate and hydroxide ions, with formula .J.E. Macintyre, ''Dictionary of Inorganic Compounds'' 1992 CRC Press It is believed that in the older literature this is probably what was referred to as beryllium carbonate.

Safety

It may cause irritation. Toxic. It should be handled carefully since several related beryllium compounds are known carcinogens.

Natural occurrence

No purely beryllium carbonate is known to occur naturally. The only Be-rich carbonate mineral currently known is niveolanite.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beryllium Carbonate Beryllium compounds Carbonates