Question

Among the following alkaline earth metal halides, one which is covalent and soluble in organic solvents is

• A. Beryllium chloride
• B. Calcium chloride
• C. Strontium chloride
• D. Magnesium chloride

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To determine which of the given alkaline earth metal halides is covalent and soluble in organic solvents, we need to consider the characteristics and general trends of alkaline earth metal halides:

1. Alkaline earth metals (Group 2 elements) generally form ionic halides. However, the degree of covalency can increase under certain conditions, such as with smaller cations or when the anion is highly polarizable.
2. Beryllium halides, due to the small size of the Be²⁺ ion, are more covalent compared to halides of other alkaline earth metals. Thus, beryllium compounds tend to be more covalent.
3. Among the given options, Beryllium chloride (BeCl₂) is the most covalent and is known to be soluble in organic solvents like ether and alcohol.

However, due to the error identified in the "Correct Answer" section, we need to correct this and declare that the actual covalent compound soluble in organic solvents is Beryllium chloride, not Strontium chloride.

Let's rule out the other options:

• Calcium chloride (CaCl₂): This compound is ionic and soluble in water, not typically in organic solvents.
• Magnesium chloride (MgCl₂): Similar to calcium chloride, it is ionic and more soluble in water.
• Strontium chloride (SrCl₂): This is also an ionic compound, greatly soluble in water but not known for solubility in organic solvents.

Conclusion: The correct answer is Beryllium chloride which is covalent and soluble in organic solvents.