Beryllium perchlorate

Beryllium perchlorate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Be(ClO₄)₂·nH₂O, where n is 2 or 4. All forms are white, hygroscopic, and water-soluble solids.

Beryllium perchlorate

Names
Other names Beryllium diperchlorate
Identifiers
CAS Number	13597-95-0 tetrahydrate: 7787-48-6
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image tetrahydrate: Interactive image
ChemSpider	25945741
PubChem CID	14389538 tetrahydrate: 53471875
UNII	3A00E42LVD
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID00159608
InChI InChI=1S/Be.2ClHO4/c;2*2-1(3,4)5/h;2*(H,2,3,4,5)/q+2;;/p-2 Key: MVTQSBYPNJATTN-UHFFFAOYSA-L tetrahydrate: InChI=1S/Be.2ClHO4.4H2O/c;2*2-1(3,4)5;;;;/h;2*(H,2,3,4,5);4*1H2/q+2;;;;;;/p-2 Key: TYWIVKBGKVAEHJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES [Be+2].[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O tetrahydrate: [Be+2].O.O.O.O.[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	Be(ClO4)2
Molar mass	279.975 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Melting point	140 °C (284 °F; 413 K) (decomposition, tetrahydrate)
Solubility in water	198 g/100 mL (25 °C, tetrahydrate)
Solubility	Soluble in acetone
Structure
Coordination geometry	Tetrahederal (Be)
Related compounds
Other cations	Magnesium perchlorate Calcium perchlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis and reactions

Beryllium perchlorate tetrahydrate, Be(ClO₄)₂·4H₂O, is produced from the reaction of beryllium oxide and concentrated perchloric acid followed by the evaporation of the solution:^[1][2][3]

BeO + 2 HClO₄ → Be(ClO₄)₂ + H₂O

The dihydrate can be similarly prepared by the reaction of beryllium chloride and hydronium perchlorate at 60 °C.^[4]

Heating of the tetrahydrate does not produce the anhydrous form; it instead decomposes at 140 °C, producing an unidentified basic beryllium perchlorate, and if this compound is heated to 260 °C, it decomposes to beryllium oxide. Similarly, if the dihydrate is heated to 200 °C, it decomposes to basic beryllium perchlorate (Be₄O(ClO₄)₆), which then decomposes at 270 °C to BeO.^[5]

The tetrahydrate and dihydrate dissolves in water to form the [Be(H₂O)₄]²⁺ ion, which then partially hydrolyzes to the trimeric ion [Be₃(OH)₃(H₂O)₆]³⁺. They also dissolve in acetone which then can react with triphenylphosphine oxide to form Be(OPPh₃)₄(ClO₄)₂.^[3][6]

Structure

The structure of the dihydrate, which was probed by IR spectroscopy, consists of discreet [Be(H₂O)₄]²⁺ and [Be(ClO₄)₄]^2– ions.^[4]