JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3sb017
Beryllium hydride is made from BeClX2 and LiAlHX4. It is hydrolysed completely by water to give a gas and a hydroxide, and that hydroxide dissolves in excess aqueous NaOH. Which option gives the number of hydrogen neighbours of each Be in solid BeHX2 and the beryllium species in the final solution?
A4; [Be(OH)X4]X2−
B4; [Be(OH)X3]X− with no other beryllium species
C2; BeX2+
D2; [Be(OH)X4]X2−
Answer: A
Solid BeHX2 is a polymer in which each Be is joined to four bridging H atoms (3-centre-2-electron Be−H−Be bonds). BeHX2+2HX2OBe(OH)X2+2HX2, and amphoteric Be(OH)X2+2NaOHNaX2[Be(OH)X4]. The beryllium species is therefore the tetrahedral [Be(OH)X4]X2− anion.