Beryllium, the first member of the Group 2 metals, shows anomalous behaviour as compared to magnesium and rest of the members
i) Beryllium has exceptionally small atomic and ionic sizes and thus does not compare well with other members of the group. Because of high ionisation enthalpy and small size it forms compounds which are largely covalent and get easily hydrolysed.
ii) Beryllium does not exhibit coordination number more than four as in its valence shell there are only four orbitals. The remaining members of the group can have a coordination number of six by making use of d-orbitals.
iii) The oxide and hydroxide of beryllium, unlike the hydroxides of oother elements in the group, are amphoteric in nature.
