BERYLLIUM SULFATE

Chemical properties

Colorless crystals. Soluble in water; insoluble in alcohol.

Physical properties

Colorless crystalline solid; tetragonal crystal system; hygroscopic; density 2.50 g/cm³ (tetrahydrate 1.71 g/cm³); tetrahydrated salt loses water of crystallization on heating; further heating to 550°C causes decomposition; soluble in water, tetrahydrate more soluble in water (30.5g/100g at 30°) than the anhydrous salt; insoluble in alcohol.

The Uses of BERYLLIUM SULFATE

No major commercial application of beryllium sulfate is known.

The Uses of BERYLLIUM SULFATE

Beryllium sulfate is an important salt of beryllium used as an intermediate of high purity for calcination to beryllium oxide powder for ceramic applications. A saturated aqueous solution of beryllium sulfate contains 30.5% BeSO4 by weight at 30 °C and 65.2% at 111 °C.

Definition

ChEBI: A metal sulfate in which the metal is beryllium (in the +2 oxidation state) and the ratio of beryllium to sulfate is 1:1.

Preparation

Beryllium sulfate may be prepared by treating an aqueous solution of any beryllium salt with sulfuric acid, followed by evaporation of the solution and crystallization. The hydrated product may be converted to anhydrous salt by heating at 400°C.

General Description

Colorless, odorless crystals. Highly toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Sinks and mixes with water.

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

BERYLLIUM SULFATE is incompatible with the following: Acids, caustics, chlorinated hydrocarbons, oxidizers, molten lithium .

Hazard

A confirmed carcinogen.

Health Hazard

Any dramatic, unexplained weight loss should be considered as possible first indication of beryllium disease. Other symptoms include anorexia, fatigue, weakness, malaise. Inhalation causes pneumonitis, nasopharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, dyspnea, chronic cough. Contact with eyes causes conjunctival inflammation. Contact with skin causes dermatitis of primary irritant or sensitization type; causes ulcer formation when in contact with cuts.

Fire Hazard

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic beryllium oxide and sulfuric acid fumes may form in fire.

Safety Profile

Confirmed carcinogen withexperimental tumorigenic data. Acute poison byinhalation, ingestion, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous,intravenous, and intratracheal routes. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition itemits very toxic fumes of SOx an