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Chapter 5: Problem 201

Does \(\mathrm{BeH}_{2}\) have all of its atoms obeying the octet rule? If not, indicate which atom or atoms violate the octet rule and why it is OK.

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, the BeH₂ molecule does not have all of its atoms obeying the octet rule. Beryllium (Be) only has four electrons in its outermost shell, which violates the octet rule. However, BeH₂ is still stable due to Be's small size and low electronegativity, allowing it to have fewer than eight electrons in its valence shell without causing instability. The hydrogen atoms follow the duet rule, a specific rule applicable for hydrogen.

Step by step solution

01

Determine the electron configuration of Beryllium and Hydrogen

The electron configurations of Beryllium (Be) and Hydrogen (H) are: - Be: 1s²2s² (atomic number: 4) - H: 1s¹ (atomic number: 1)
02

Determine the valence electrons of Beryllium and Hydrogen

The valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom. - Be has 2 valence electrons (2s²) - H has 1 valence electron (1s¹)
03

Assess valence electron count for the BeH₂ molecule

The BeH₂ molecule consists of one Be atom and two H atoms. In a chemical bond, Be shares its two valence electrons with one H atom each, as H only needs one more electron to fill its 1s¹ orbital to reach its most stable configuration (the duet rule for hydrogen). After sharing electrons in the BeH₂ molecule, the electron configuration becomes: - Be: 1s²2s² (Be shares its two valence electrons with two H atoms) - H: 1s² (Each H atom shares one electron with Be)
04

Evaluate electron count against the octet rule

Comparing the electron configuration of each atom in the BeH₂ molecule with the octet rule: - Be has four electrons in its outermost shell (2s²). It does not obey the octet rule. - H atoms have two electrons in their 1s shell. They obey the duet rule specifically applicable for hydrogen.
05

Explain why BeH₂ is stable despite not following the octet rule

Although Beryllium does not follow the octet rule in BeH₂, the molecule is still stable. The stability is due to the fact that Be has a relatively small size and low electronegativity which allows it to have fewer than eight electrons in its valence shell without causing instability. In this particular case, Be is stable with four electrons in its outermost shell. #Conclusion# The BeH₂ molecule does not strictly obey the octet rule for its Beryllium atom. However, this does not result in instability for the molecule, as Be's small size and low electronegativity allow it to be stable with only four valence electrons. The hydrogen atoms follow the duet rule, which applies specifically for hydrogen.

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