Beryllium Chloride
- Beryllium Chloride Identification
- How is Beryllium Chloride Prepared
- Reactions with Other Compounds
- Properties and Characteristics of Beryllium Chloride
- What is Beryllium Chloride Used for
- Is It Safe
Beryllium chloride, also known as beryllium dichloride in IUPAC nomenclature, is an inorganic compound of beryllium and chloride represented by the chemical formula BeCl2 [1]. It can attract and hold water from the surrounding environment (hygroscopic compound) and dissolves well in several polar solvents [2].
Beryllium Chloride Identification |
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CAS Number | 7787-47-5 [1] |
PubChem CID | 24588 [1] |
ChemSpider ID | 22991 [3] |
UN Number | 1566 [1] |
EC Number | 232-116-4 [1] |
RTECS Number | DS2625000 [1] |
NSC Number | 84263 [1] |
ICSC Number | 1354 [1] |
InChI Key | LWBPNIJBHRISSS-UHFFFAOYSA-L [1] |

Beryllium Chloride Formula
How is Beryllium Chloride Prepared
It is synthesized by the reaction of beryllium with chlorine at a temperature of about 250 °C, which is represented by the following equation [4]:
Be Cl2 → BeCl2
When beryllium oxide reacts with chlorine in the presence of carbon at a temperature of about 700-900 °C, it undergoes carbothermal reduction to yield carbon monoxide and beryllium chloride [5]:
BeO Cl2 C → BeCl2 CO
BeCl2 can also be produced by the reaction of beryllium with a diluted solution of hydrogen chloride:
Be 2HCl → BeCl2 H2
Reactions with Other Compounds
Beryllium Chloride with Silver Nitrate
Beryllium chloride reacts with silver nitrate dissolved in water, to form silver chloride powder and an aqueous solution of beryllium nitrate:
BeCl2 2AgNO3 → Be(NO3)2 2AgCl

Beryllium Chloride Bonding
Properties and Characteristics of Beryllium Chloride
General Properties |
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Molar Mass/Molecular Weight | 79.912 g/mol [1] |
Physical Properties |
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Color and Appearance | Colorless/white, whitish-yellow, green crystalline mass [1] |
Odor | Sharp, pungent [1] |
Melting Point | 415 °C, 779 °F; 399 °C, 750 °F [1] |
Boiling Point | 482 °C, 899.6 °F [1] |
Density | 1.9 g cm-3 [1] |
State of matter at room temperature | Solid [1] |
Solubility | Soluble in ethyl ether, ethanol, pyridine, and carbon disulfide, insoluble in toluene, benzene [1] |
Solubility in Water | 71.5 g/100 g at 25 °C [1] |
Heat Capacity (C) | 71.1 J/mol K, 7.808 J/K |
Atomic Properties |
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Crystal Structure | Hexagonal |

Structure of Beryllium Chloride
What is Beryllium Chloride Used for
- It is a catalyst as well as a chemical intermediate for several beryllium compounds [5].
- Used as a raw material used during the electrolytic extraction of beryllium [6].
Is It Safe
Beryllium chloride causes acute toxicity if inhaled, swallowed, or exposed through the skin. It results in skin corrosion, allergic skin reaction, eye and respiratory tract irritation [1]. It is known to be a carcinogen in humans and may cause organ toxicity, including lung cancer through repeated exposure [1].
References:
- Beryllium Chloride (BeCl2) – Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Beryllium Chloride – Chem.libretexts.org
- Beryllium Chloride – Chemspider.com
- Beryllium React with Chlorine – Chemiday.com
- Beryllium Chloride – Hazmap.nlm.nih.gov
- Electrolytic Extraction of Beryllium – Tandfonline.com