Question

Beryllium (Be) and fluorine (F) combine to make the compound BeF2. What is the chemical name for this compound?

Answer 1

The chemical name for BeF2 is beryllium fluoride. Beryllium has two valence electrons and pairs with two fluorine atoms to form a compound with a linear structure and a bond angle of 180 degrees.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chemical name for the compound formed by beryllium (Be) and fluorine (F), which is BeF2, is called beryllium fluoride. Beryllium has two valence electrons in its 2s shell and fluorine has seven valence electrons. When these two elements combine to form BeF2, the beryllium atom becomes the central atom, with two single bonds to fluorine atoms. This compound forms a linear structure with a bond angle of 180 degrees between the two fluorine atoms.

There seems to be some confusion in the provided material, mentioning both boron trifluoride (BF3) and beryllium hydride (BeH2); however, the question at hand is regarding beryllium fluoride (BeF2), not boron trifluoride nor beryllium hydride. Unlike boron, beryllium can form compounds that typically violate the octet rule, as it is satisfied with having only four electrons in its outer shell, shown by its two single bonds with the fluorine atoms in the structure of BeF2.

Answer 2

IUPAC name for BeF2 is beryllium difluoride

Step-by-step explanation:

Beryllium (Be) belongs to group 2 i.e. the alkaline earth metals. The atomic number for Mg = 4.Valence electron configuration = 2s²

Fluorine (F) belongs to group 17 in the periodic table. The atomic number for F = 8.Valence electron configuration = 2s²2p⁵

Be being a metal shows a tendency to lose electrons. F, in contrast is highly electronegative i.e. it has a strong tendency to accept electrons. The valence electron configuration of F is such that it needs only 1 more electrons to complete its octet of 8 electrons.

Therefore, when Be and F combine, Be will lose its outer 2 electrons to 2 atoms of F giving a neutral compound with a chemical formula BeF₂. Since one atom of Be combines with 2 atoms of F, the chemical name/IUPAC is beryllium difluoride. However, it is also referred as beryllium fluoride.