Beryllium Carbonate, BeCO₃

Indefinite basic carbonates of beryllium are precipitated from boiling solutions of the hydroxide in alkali carbonates. When the precipitate from boiling ammonium carbonate solution is kept over sulphuric acid, it tends to the composition BeCO₃.3Be(OH)₂.2H₂O. The basic carbonates, though they are probably very indefinite in composition, are useful for preparing other compounds of beryllium. It is said that if a current of carbon dioxide is passed through a basic carbonate, suspended in water, and the solution evaporated in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, crystals of normal beryllium carbonate, BeCO₃.4H₂O, separate out. This salt is also said to become anhydrous at 100° C., and to lose carbon dioxide at higher temperatures. The existence of a definite carbonate of beryllium is, however, very doubtful.

Sestini found that beryllia dissolved in water charged with carbon dioxide at ordinary pressures, and ascribed its solubility to the formation of beryllium hydrogen carbonate.

A double carbonate of beryllium and potassium is said to crystallise Dut when beryllium hydroxide is digested with potassium carbonate solution and treated with alcohol.