According to Sidgwick, Beryllium nitrite cannot be
prepared, owing to the weakness of the acid, HNO2 Parsons states that beryllium nitrite has never been
prepared. The efforts of Vogel (1903) proved fruitless
as the solution immediately hydrolyzed with loss of
the oxides of nitrogen. It might possibly be prepared
in nonaqueous solutions. However, there is no record
of this having ever been done.
If beryllium nitrite is to be prepared by the usual
double decomposition reaction of sodium nitrite and BeCl2:
2NaNO2 (aq) + BeCl2 ?Be(NO2)2 (aq) + 4NaCl (aq)
The product is likely to be Be(OH)NO2 if it is obtained
under vacuum evaporation at 10°C. Whether a hydrate
forms or not remains unknown. Furthermore, the
product probably will not be stable in air and will
decompose at room temperature unless protected from
the atmosphere.
