JEE Main 2022 — p Block Elements (Group 13 & 14) Question with Solution

The chlorides of both beryllium and aluminium have Cl– bridged chloride structure in vapour phase. Both the chlorides are soluble in organic solvents and are strong Lewis acids. They are used as Friedel Craft catalysts.

${\mathrm{Be}}_2{\mathrm{Cl}}_4$ is lewis acid and ${\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{Cl}}_6$ has complete octet.

$\mathrm{Be}$ and $\mathrm{Al}$ are amphoteric metals therefore dissolve in acid as well as alkaline solution and form beryllate and aluminate ions in excess alkali.

 Beryllium hydroxide dissolves in excess of alkali to give a beryllate ion,$\left[\mathrm{Be}\right(\mathrm{OH}{)}_4 {]}^{2–}$ just as aluminium hydroxide gives aluminate ion, $\left[\mathrm{Al}{\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)}_2\right(\mathrm{OH}{)}_4{]}^{-}$