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 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, such as pare ...

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 ...

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

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

, 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 and

ammonium carbonate Ammonium carbonate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is an ammonium salt of carbonic acid. It is composed of ammonium cations and carbonate anions . Since ammonium carbonate readily degrades to gaseous ammonia and carbon diox ...

, 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 formations of purely beryllium carbonate are known to occur naturally. The only Be-rich carbonate mineral currently known is niveolanite.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beryllium Carbonate Beryllium compounds Carbonates