beryllium dibromide

Chemical properties

orthorhombic; very hygroscopic; -80 mesh, 99% purity; enthalpy of fusion 9.80 kJ/mol; made by reaction of Be and Br2 at 500°C–700°C [KIR78] [CER91] [MER06] [CRC10]

The Uses of beryllium dibromide

Beryllium fluoride is used in biochemistry, particularly protein crystallography, since it binds in some of the same ways as phosphate does in human tissues. ADP and beryllium fluoride together tend to bind to ATP sites and inhibit protein action, making

Preparation

Beryllium bromide has the formula BeBr2. It is very hygroscopic and is soluble in water. It has the molecular weight of 168.821 g/mol. The structure has not been documented. Beryllium bromide can be prepared by reacting Be metal with elemental bromine at temperatures of 500°C–700°C:
Be＋Br2→BeBr2
Beryllium bromide is also formed when beryllium oxide with HBr in aqueous solution or hydrogen bromide in the gas phase:
BeO＋2HBr→BeBr2＋H2O
This bromide compound was first prepared by Wohler (1828) by the action of bromine vapor on the metal and also upon a mixture of carbon and beryllium oxide.Berthemot (1831) obtained it in solution by dissolving the oxide in hydrobromic acid. Humpridge (1883) also prepared it by acting on a mixture of the oxide and carbon with dry bromine.
The anhydrous bromide is always obtained by sublimation as colorless white crystals.