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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3sb060

The maximum covalency of beryllium is 4 because

  1. ABe has a very low ionisation enthalpy
  2. BBe2+ is the largest ion of group 2
  3. Cits valence shell has only four orbitals (2s and three 2p) and no d orbitals
  4. DBe has four valence electrons

Answer: C

Be () can use only 2s and 2p orbitals for bonding, which is four orbitals in all. Hence it cannot expand its octet and the covalency cannot exceed 4, unlike heavier group 2 members.
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