Question

Choose the correct statement(s):
A Beryllium oxide is purely acidic in nature
B Beryllium carbonate is kept in the atmosphere of $CO _2$
C Beryllium sulphate is readily soluble in water
D Beryllium shows anomalous behavior
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B and C only
• B. B, C and D only
• C. A and B only
• D. A only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To solve this question, we need to evaluate the provided statements about beryllium compounds and pick the correct ones.

1. Statement A: Beryllium oxide is purely acidic in nature
   • Beryllium oxide (BeO) is amphoteric in nature. This means it can act as both an acid and a base. It reacts with acids to form beryllium salt and with bases to form complex anions.
   • Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
2. Statement B: Beryllium carbonate is kept in the atmosphere of CO_2
   • Beryllium carbonate (BeCO_3) is unstable in air and decomposes to form beryllium oxide, carbon dioxide, and water.
   • To stabilize it, it is usually kept in a CO_2 atmosphere. This prevents the loss of CO_2 from it, thereby making the statement correct.
3. Statement C: Beryllium sulphate is readily soluble in water
   • Beryllium sulphate (BeSO_4) is indeed soluble in water. It is one of the few beryllium salts that dissolve well in water.
   • Hence, this statement is correct.
4. Statement D: Beryllium shows anomalous behavior
   • Beryllium is known to show anomalous behavior compared to other group 2 elements (alkaline earth metals) due to its small size and high ionization energy.
   • This behavior is akin to the diagonal relationship it shares with aluminum.
   • Therefore, this statement is correct.

In conclusion, the true statements are B, C, and D. Therefore, the correct answer is B, C and D only.