ContaminantDB: Beryllium chloride

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (3)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-21 00:52:32 UTC

Update Date

2026-04-05 18:05:30 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000571

Identification

Common Name

Beryllium chloride

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Beryllium chloride is a chloride of beryllium. It is used as a catalyst in organic reactions. Beryllium is a lightweight alkaline earth metal with the atomic number 4. It is a relatively rare element found naturally only combined with other elements in minerals. (3, 7)

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
IARC Carcinogens Group 1
T3DB toxins

Contaminant Type

Beryllium Compound
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Inorganic Compound
Pollutant
Synthetic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
BeCl2	ChEBI
Beryllium chloride ((7)becl2)	MeSH

Chemical Formula

BeCl₂

Average Molecular Mass

79.918 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

78.950 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

7787-47-5

IUPAC Name

dichloroberyllium

Traditional Name

BeCl2

SMILES

Cl[Be]Cl

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/Be.2ClH/h;2*1H/q+2;;/p-2

InChI Key

LWBPNIJBHRISSS-UHFFFAOYSA-L

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as alkaline earth metal chlorides. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest halogen atom is Chlorine, and the heaviest metal atom is a lanthanide.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Mixed metal/non-metal compounds

Class

Alkaline earth metal salts

Sub Class

Alkaline earth metal chlorides

Direct Parent

Alkaline earth metal chlorides

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Alkaline earth metal chloride
Inorganic beryllium salt
Inorganic chloride salt
Inorganic salt

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

beryllium molecular entity (CHEBI:62843 )
inorganic chloride (CHEBI:62843 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

Colorless soild.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	399°C, 672°K, 750°F
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	1.27	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	12.27 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	7.26 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-004i-9000000000-9c5a67e47bd7842ab109	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-004i-9000000000-972953a9ca19b8b05238	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-004i-9000000000-0961fd487ae1a3cabc82	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Inhalation (3)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Once in the body, beryllium acts as a hapten and interacts with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DP presenting cells in the lungs, becoming physically associated with a major histocompatability (MHC) class II molecule. This MHC class II-beryllium-peptide complex is recognized by the T lymphocyte receptor, triggering CD4+ T lymphocyte activation and proliferation. The resulting inflammatory response is a cell-mediated process orchestrated by cytokines and results in the formation of (usually pulmonary) granulomas. Beryllium's toxicity may be controlled by the iron-storage protein ferritin, which sequesters beryllium by binding it and preventing it from interacting with other enzymes. (4, 1, 2)

Metabolism

Beryllium is absorbed mainly through the lungs, where it enters the bloodstream and is transported throughout the body by binding to prealbumins and gamma-globulins. Beryllium accumulates in lung tissue and the skeleton. It is excreted mainly in the urine. (4)

Toxicity Values

LD50: 9.7 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (8)

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

1, carcinogenic to humans. (6)

Uses/Sources

Beryllium chloride is used as a catalyst in organic reactions. (7)

Minimum Risk Level

Chronic Oral: 0.002 mg/kg/day (5)

Health Effects

Acute inhalation of a high level of beryllium can result in a pneumonia-like condition called acute beryllium disease. Chronic inhalation of beryllium can cause an inflammatory reaction in the respiratory system called chronic beryllium disease. Chronic beryllium disease may result in anorexia and weight loss, as well as right side heart enlargement and heart disease in advanced cases. Chronic exposure can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Skin contact with beryllium results in contact dermatitus. (3, 4)

Symptoms

Chronic beryllium disease causes fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, and a persistent dry cough. (3, 4)

Treatment

Chronic beryllium disease is treated with immunosuppressive medicines, usually of the glucocorticoid class. (3)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

Not Available

FooDB ID