This alkaline earth hydride is a colourless solid that is insoluble in solvents that do not decompose it. Unlike the ionically bonded hydrides of the heavier Group 2 elements, beryllium hydride is covalently bonded (three-center two-electron bond).
Is hydride a solid?
These metals enter into a direct reaction with hydrogen at elevated temperatures (300–700 °C [570–1,300 °F]) to produce hydrides of the general formulas MH and MH2. Such compounds are white crystalline solids when pure but are usually gray, owing to trace impurities of the metal.
Is beryllium hydride a polymer?
The hydrides of beryllium and magnesium are covalent and polymeric (BeH2)n. has a chain structure containing chains with hydrogen bridges between beryllium atoms Each beryllium atom is bonded to two hydrogen atoms and each hydrogen atom to two beryllium atoms.
