BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules (2024)

Beryllium Dichloride, having a chemical formula of BeCl2 is an inorganic and colourless compound. It dissolves in a lot of polar solvents. BeCl2 is used in the electrolysis reactions for Beryllium. The compound is made up of one Beryllium atom and two Chlorine atoms. To understand the physical and chemical properties of any molecule, one needs to know the molecular geometry and the Lewis structure.

Name of moleculeBeryllium Dichloride (BeCl2)
No of Valence Electrons in the molecule16
Hybridization of BeCl2sp hybridization
Bond Angles180°
Molecular Geometry of BeCl2Linear

In this blog post, we will look at the Lewis structure of BeCl2, its molecular geometry, bond angles, shape and more.

Contents

BeCl2 Valence electrons

To determine the Lewis structure of any molecule, we must know the total number of valence electrons for the molecule. We will first find out the total valence electrons for BeCl2 and then go through its Lewis Structure.

Total number of valence electrons in BeCl2 – Valence electrons of Be + Valence electrons of Cl

Beryllium has 2 valence electrons in its outer shell.

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons, but as there are two atoms of chlorine, we will multiply the number by 2.

Total number of valence electrons in BeCl2– 2 + 7*2

= 16

Thus, BeCl2 has 16 valence electrons.

BeCl2 Lewis Structure

The Lewis structure of any given molecule helps to know the arrangement of atoms in the molecule, bond formations and the lone pairs. All these characteristics help in determining other properties of the molecule.

Any given atom follows the octet rule, although there are some exceptions to this rule. The octet rule states that an atom must have 8 electrons in its outer shell to attain a stable structure similar to the inert gases. Thus, each atom tries to get eight valence electrons in its outer shell by sharing the other atoms’ electrons.

The electrons that participate in forming bonds are called bonding pairs of electrons, whereas the ones that do not take part in bonds are known as the lone pairs of nonbonding pairs of electrons.

For BeCl2, Beryllium will take the central position as it is less electronegative than chlorine atoms. So place the Be atom in the centre with both the Chlorine atoms on the side.

If you look at the Chlorine atoms, both these atoms require one valence electron to complete their octet. Beryllium will share one valence electron each with the Chlorine atoms so that both the atoms can complete their octet.

Hence all the valence electrons are used up, and there are no lone pairs of electrons in this molecule. There are two bonded pairs of electrons on the central Beryllium atom. The bonds formed between Chlorine and Beryllium are covalent as both these atoms are sharing their electrons.

BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules (1)

BeCl2 Hybridization

The electron configuration of Be in its ground state is 1s2 2s2. In this molecule, Beryllium shares both the valence electrons in its outer shell with Chlorine atoms. The electrons in 2s get unpaired in its excited state, and one electron moves to the 2p orbital. As a result, there are two hybrid orbitals formed: one s orbital and one p orbital. Thus, hybridization of Be is sp for BeCl2 in its monomeric form.

BeCl2 Bond Angles

All the atoms of this molecule are arranged in a single plane. BeCl2 has a symmetric arrangement as both the Chlorine atoms are on either side of the central atom. And both these atoms share one valence electron of Beryllium to complete their octet. The bond angle of Cl-Be-Cl is 180° as there are no lone pairs in the molecule.

BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules (2)

BeCl2 Molecular Geometry

BeCl2 has an easy structure and molecular geometry. Beryllium forms single covalent bonds with both the Chlorine atoms. These bonded pairs of electrons take the positions as far as possible to avoid the repulsive forces, resulting in 180° bond angle. And as all the electrons are used up, and there are no lone pairs, the molecular geometry of BeCl2 is linear.

BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules (3)

BeCl2 Shape

As mentioned above, BeCl2 has a linear geometry to minimize the repulsive forces between the bonded pairs of electrons. This arrangement of electrons and atoms in the molecule makes the shape of BeCl2 linear.

Concluding Remarks

For a quick revision and summary, we can conclude the following for Beryllium Dichloride:

  • It consists of one Beryllium atom and two Chlorine atoms.
  • Beryllium forms single covalent bonds with both Chlorine atoms; thus, there are two bonded pairs of electrons on the central atom.
  • There are no lone pairs of electrons in this molecule as all electrons are used up.
  • BeCl2 has sp hybridization and linear molecular geometry.
  • The bond angles of Cl-Be-Cl is 180°.
BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules (2024)

FAQs

BeCl2 Lewis structure, Molecular geometry, Hybridization, Bond angle and shape - Geometry of Molecules? ›

BeCl2 contains 2 bonding pairs of electrons which arrange themselves as far away as possible to minimise the electron repulsion between them, giving a bond angle of 180 degrees and a linear shape.

What is the molecular geometry and bond angles of BeCl2? ›

BeCl2 contains 2 bonding pairs of electrons which arrange themselves as far away as possible to minimise the electron repulsion between them, giving a bond angle of 180 degrees and a linear shape.

What is the Lewis structure and shape of BeCl2? ›

BeCl2 has a linear structure. The Beryllium atom is the central atom and it will have 2 Chlorine atoms on either side of it. We know this because Be has 2 electrons in its outer shell and Chlorine atoms have 7 electrons in their outer shells.

What type of bond is BeCl2? ›

Answer: This is a highly polar covalent bond. The electronegativity of Be is 1.6 and the electronegativity of Cl is 3.2.

What is the structure of BeCl2? ›

Two forms (polymorphs) of BeCl2 are known. Both structures consist tetrahedral Be2+ centers interconnected by doubly bridging chloride ligands. One form consist of edge-sharing polytetrahedra. The other form resembles zinc iodide with interconnected adamantane-like cages.

What is the shape of BeCl2 using the Vsepr model? ›

During the formation of , the beryllium atom is covalently bonded with two chlorine atoms. In this molecule, there are two bond pairs while no lone pair is found in the molecule. The hybridization of is hybridization. Thus, as per VSEPR theory, the shape of is linear.

Is BeCl2 linear or tetrahedral? ›

BeCl2's structure can be described as linear. The Be atom is sp hybridized as it has 2 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs of electrons.

What is the molecular geometry of BeCl2 brainly? ›

The molecular geometry of BeCl2 is linear with symmetric charge distribution around the central atom. Therefore this molecule is nonpolar.

What is the molecular shape about the central atom in BeCl2? ›

Explanation: Since the central atom has no lone pair and two bonding atoms (group / domains), teh electron-pair and molecular geometry of B e C l 2 is linear and the bond angle is .

What is the correct statement about the structure of BeCl2? ›

BeCl2 possesses polymeric chain structure in the solid state. The Be atom is surrounded tetrahedrally by four Cl atoms, two of which are connected by covalent bonds and the other two by coordinate bonds. BeCl2's electron deficiency accounts for its polymeric structure.

What is the hybridization of BeCl2? ›

Answer: But in the solid-state, beryllium dichloride exists as a polymer. Therefore one beryllium forms a covalent bond with two chlorine and coordinate bonds with two chlorine. It exhibits sp3 hybridization and it is a polymeric chain in structure.

What is the shape and bond angle of BeCl2? ›

Beryllium chloride (Cl-Be-Cl) is a linear molecule, and the bond angle (∠Cl-Be-Cl) is 180°.

Does BeCl2 have sp2 hybridization? ›

You see that BeCl2 only has two regions of electron density around it. Thus, its hybrid orbital will be sp. If it had three regions of electron density around it, the hybrid orbital would be sp2.

References

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