| Identification | Back Directory | [Name]
beryllium acetylide | [CAS]
506-66-1 | [Synonyms]
Einecs 208-050-7
beryllium carbide
beryllium acetylide
1,3-Diberyllapropadiene
Beryllium carbide (be2C)
Methanetetrayldiberyllium | [EINECS(EC#)]
208-050-7 | [Molecular Formula]
C2Be | [MOL File]
506-66-1.mol | [Molecular Weight]
33.0336 |
| Chemical Properties | Back Directory | [Melting point ]
decomposes at >2100℃ [MER06] | [density ]
1.90 | [solubility ]
reacts with H2O | [form ]
red cubic crystals | [color ]
red cubic crystals, crystalline | [Water Solubility ]
decomposed very slowly by H2O; hydrolysis yields methane and beryllium hydroxide [KIR78] [MER06] | [Crystal Structure]
Cubic | [CAS DataBase Reference]
506-66-1 | [EPA Substance Registry System]
Beryllium carbide (Be2C) (506-66-1) |
| Questions and Answers (Q&A) | Back Directory | [Chemical Properties]
Red cubic crystal; hard and refractory; density 1.90 g/cm3; decomposes when heated above 2,100°C; reacts with water.
| [Uses]
Beryllium carbide is used in a nuclear reactor as core material.
| [Preparation]
Beryllium carbide is prepared by heating the elements beryllium and carbon at elevated temperatures (above 900°C). It also may be prepared by reduction of beryllium oxide with carbon at a temperature above 1,500°C:
2BeO + 3C → (1500℃)→ Be2C + 2CO
Beryllium carbide decomposes very slowly in water:
Be2C + 2H2O → 2BeO + CH4
The rate of decomposition is faster in mineral acids with evolution of methane. However, in hot concentrated alkalies the reaction is very rapid, forming alkali metal beryllate and methane:
Be2C + 4NaOH → 2Na2BeO2 + CH4
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