Red cubic crystal; hard and refractory; density 1.90 g/cm3; decomposes when heated above 2,100°C; reacts with water.
Brick-red or yellowish-red
octahedra. Uses: Nuclear reactor
cores.
Beryllium acetylide is used in a nuclear reactor as core material,Nuclear reactor core material: Schwartz.
Nuclear reactor core material: Schwartz, US 3170812 (1965 to USAEC).
Beryllium carbide (Be2C) is used for the cores in nuclear reactors.
Beryllium carbide is prepared by heating the elements beryllium and carbon at elevated temperatures (above 900°C). It also may be prepared by reduction of beryllium oxide with carbon at a temperature above 1,500°C:
2BeO + 3C → (1500℃)→ Be2C + 2CO
Beryllium carbide decomposes very slowly in water:
Be2C + 2H2O → 2BeO + CH4
The rate of decomposition is faster in mineral acids with evolution of methane. However, in hot concentrated alkalies the reaction is very rapid, forming alkali metal beryllate and methane:
Be2C + 4NaOH → 2Na2BeO2 + CH4
