Beryllium Thionates

Description

Beryllium dithionite is expected to have the molecular formula of BeS₂O₄ and the molecular weight of 153.1412 g/mol. The “thionite” and “thionate” salts of beryllium would include:
Beryllium dithionite=BeS2O4
Beryllium dithionate=BeS2O6
Beryllium tetrathionate=BeS4O6
Beryllium dithionite could be prepared in solution by the reaction of beryllium chloride with sodium dithionite:
BeCl2 + Na2S2O4 ? [Be(OH)]2S2O4 + 2NaCl
However, there is no record of this reaction ever having been attempted. Alternatively, it may be prepared by the solid-state reaction of SO2 gas upon the sulfite:
Be(HSO3)2+ SO2(gas)+ heat ? BeS2O4+H2O
This reaction could probably be carried out in solution as well. But, the product would differ due to the hydrated-solution characteristics of the beryllium cation in water. However, the reaction would be dependent upon the pH of the solution and a pH of about 5.0 would produce the hydrosulfite:
BeCl2+ 2(NH4)2SO3+ SO2+H2O ? [Be(OH)]2S2O4+ 2NH4Cl
The description of the physical and chemical properties of this salt are completely lacking in the scientific and technological literature. Only barium dithionite is mentioned in a few patents as a reducing agent. Indeed, Parsons in “The Chemistry and Literature of Beryllium”- 1909 states “The normal dithionite salt has not been produced”. The older reference books like Sidgewick or Remy (1933 or 1950) do not list such a compound as being known.