Beryllium oxalate explained

Beryllium oxalate is an inorganic compound, a salt of beryllium metal and oxalic acid with the chemical formula .^[1] It forms colorless crystals, dissolves in water, and also forms crystalline hydrates. The compound is used to prepare ultra-pure beryllium oxide^[2] by thermal decomposition.^[3]

Synthesis

The action of oxalic acid on beryllium hydroxide:^[4]

Be(OH) _{2} +H _{2C} _{2O} _{4} \xrightarrow{ BeC _{2 O} _{4} + 2 H _{2O} }

Chemical properties

Crystalline hydrates lose water when heated:

BeC _{2O} _{4 ⋅} 3H _{2O} \xrightarrow[-2H ^{oC} _{2O]{100} BeC _{2 O} _{4 ⋅} H _{2O} \xrightarrow[ - H ^{oC} BeC} _{2 O} _{4}}

Notes and References

1. Book: Novoselova . Aleksandra Vasilʹevna . Bat︠s︡anova . Li︠u︡dmila Rafailovna . Analytical Chemistry of Beryllium . 1969 . Ann Arbor-Humphrey Science Publishers . 25 . 15 June 2021 . en.
2. Dollimore . David . Konieczay . Julie L. . The thermal decomposition of beryllium oxalate and related materials . Thermochimica Acta . 15 June 2021 . 155–163 . en . 10.1016/S0040-6031(98)00340-2 . 1998-09-07. 318 . 1–2 .
3. Book: Walsh . Kenneth A. . Beryllium Chemistry and Processing . 2009-01-01 . . 978-0-87170-721-5 . 125 . 15 June 2021 . en.
4. Book: Moore . Raymond E. . Purification of Beryllium Compounds: A Literature Survey . 1960 . . 6 . 15 June 2021 . en.