Write a note on the anomalous behaviour of beryllium.

Explanation

Anomalous characters of Beryllium:
(a) Compounds of Be are predominantly covalent.
(ii) It is not easily affected by air and does not decompose water at ordinary temperature.
(c ) It is an amphoteric metal. It dissolves in alkali solutions forming beryllates.
(d) `BeSO_(4)` is soluble in water whereas the sulphates of `Ca, Sr and Ba` are inosoluble.
(e ) Be and its salts do not respond to Flame Test while `Ca, Sr and Ba` give character ristic flame colours.
(f) Beryllium forms many complexs, while heavier elements do not form complexes easily.
(e ) `Be` has a maximum covalency of 4, while others can have a maximum covalency of six.