Beryllium sulfate

  • BeSO4 · 4 H2O (tetrahydrate )

White odorless solid

Fixed

1.71 g · cm -3 ( tetrahydrate)

580 ° C ( decomposition)

Very soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol

Risk

-1205.2 KJ / mol

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Beryllium is a white beryllium salt of sulfuric acid with the formula BeSO4. It was first isolated in 1815 by Berzelius.

Production

Beryllium can be obtained by dissolving beryllium carbonate or beryllium hydroxide in dilute sulfuric acid.

Properties

Physical Properties

From beryllium are several hydrates: Commercially, the compound with the formula as the tetrahydrate BeSO4 · 4 H2O, which merges at 111.5 ° C in the dihydrate BeSO4 · 2 H2O, and at 158 ​​° C in the monohydrate BeSO4 · H2O. This can then be dehydrated at 400 ° C to anhydrous beryllium. The anhydrous sulfate itself is stable up to about 580 ° C. Furthermore, a hexahydrate BeSO4 · 6 H2O, which goes at about 76 ° C in the dihydrate exists. Anhydrous beryllium is only slowly and poorly soluble in water. In contrast, the tetrahydrate is readily soluble in water.

Chemical Properties

In the salt the beryllium ion is present as [Be (H2O ) 4] 2 , as the coordination number 4 characteristic of beryllium ions are ( main group element). It forms with alkali metal sulfates bad crystallization cauliflower-like crusts as double salts with the formula Me2Be ( SO4) 2 · 2 H2O be considered, eg: K2Be ( SO4) 2 · 2 H2O.

Biological Significance

Beryllium is highly toxic. In rats, a strong carcinogenic effect was observed. In humans, however, only a few cases are known.

Poisoning

There are various forms of Berylliumvergiftungen known, most of which come from the dust of the substances:

Toxic pneumonia:

  • After repeated or rare single inhalation of varying latency period of a few days to several years without apparent reason
  • Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough and fever
  • The disease progresses slowly and death can occur after months of infirmity

Berylliosis:

  • A slowly developing granulomatous reaction of the lung tissue ( " sandstorm lung" )

Use

A mixture of beryllium and radium sulfate was used in the discovery of nuclear fission as a neutron source. Extremely rare Beryllium is also used in homeopathy.

CAS registry number Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) Jöns Jacob Berzelius CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
120033
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