Group 2: Alkaline earth metals
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Would the unusual properties of beryllium affect where the metal lies in the trend of the rates of reaction of Group II metals with HCl? Would it follow a general trend or show up as an anomalous result?
The website Web elements has this to say about the behaviour of beryllium towards acids:
‘Powdered beryllium metal dissolves readily in dilute acids such as sulphuric acid, H2SO4, hydrochloric acid, HCl, or nitric acid, HNO3, to form solutions containing the aquated Be(II) ion together with hydrogen gas, H2.’
It seems, therefore, that despite other anomalies in its behaviour, beryllium follows the expected trend towards acids extrapolated from the rest of the Group. Nice question – rather unexpected answer!
Ulex
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updated: 22 August 2003
