What products are formed when beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate is heated? beryllium oxide and sulfuric acid beryllium hydroxide and sulfur trioxide beryllium metal and sulfuric acid beryllium sulfate and water
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is beryllium oxide and sulfur trioxide.
When beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate (BeSO₄·4H₂O) is heated, it undergoes thermal decomposition, leading to the loss of water molecules and the breakdown of the sulfate component. The reaction proceeds as follows:
BeSO₄·4H₂O (s) → BeO (s) + SO₃ (g) + 4H₂O (g)
This reaction occurs in multiple stages. Initially, the hydrate loses its water molecules as steam. As heating continues, the anhydrous beryllium sulfate decomposes further to form beryllium oxide (BeO) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃). These transformations occur because sulfates of small, highly charged cations such as beryllium tend to decompose rather than remain as stable anhydrous salts.
Beryllium oxide is a white, refractory solid with high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties, making it valuable in ceramic and electronic applications. Sulfur trioxide, a gaseous compound, is a significant precursor in the industrial production of sulfuric acid. When exposed to moisture, sulfur trioxide readily reacts to form sulfuric acid, an essential chemical used in numerous manufacturing processes.
The ability of hydrated salts to undergo decomposition upon heating is an important concept in inorganic chemistry. This reaction type is commonly observed with transition metal and alkaline earth metal sulfates. Understanding such decomposition processes helps in various applications, including materials synthesis, chemical engineering, and laboratory procedures for obtaining anhydrous compounds.
Overall, the thermal decomposition of beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate demonstrates a key principle in chemistry—the instability of certain hydrated salts when subjected to heat. Through controlled heating, chemists can manipulate such reactions to obtain desired compounds for industrial and scientific use.
