Beryllium carbide
# Beryllium carbide

Beryllium carbide, or $Be_2C,$ is a metal carbide. Similar to diamond, it is a very hard compound. It is used in nuclear reactors as a core material.

## Preparation

Beryllium carbide is prepared by heating the elements beryllium and carbon at elevated temperatures (above 950°C). It also may be prepared by reduction of beryllium oxide with carbon at a temperature above 1,500°C:

    2BeO + 3C → $Be_2C$ + 2CO

Beryllium carbide decomposes very slowly in water and forms methane gas:

    $Be_2C$ + $2H_2O$ → 2BeO + $CH_4$

The rate of decomposition is faster in mineral acids with evolution of methane.

    $Be_2C$ + 4 $H^+$ → 2 $Be^{2+}$ + $CH_4$

In hot concentrated alkali the reaction is very rapid, forming alkali metal beryllates and methane:

    $Be_2C$ + $4OH^−$ → 2 $BeO_2^{2−}$ + $CH_4$
