What is the ionic compound containing beryllium and oxygen?

1 Answer
Meave60 · dwayne
Mar 2, 2015

Beryllium oxide.

Explanation:

The ionic compound containing beryllium and oxygen is beryllium oxide. The beryllium ion has a charge of #"2"^+"# and has the symbol #"Be"^(2+)"#. The oxide ion has a charge of #"2"^-"# and has the symbol #"O"^(2-)"#. The formula unit for beryllium oxide is #"BeO"#.

BeO can be produced by the reaction between beryllium and oxygen. In this reaction, each Be atom loses its two valence electrons to O atoms, forming #"Be"^(2+)"# ions and #"O"^(2-)"# ions. The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond.
#"2Be"# + #"O"_2"# #rarr# #"2Be"^(2+)"# + #"2O"^(2-)"# #rarr# #"2BeO"#.

Note: BeO forms a crystal lattice with covalent character, and has an intermediate ionic-covalent character.
http://www.docbrown.info/page07/ASA2ptable4b.htm
http://www.docbrown.info/page07/ASA2ptable4.htm

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