Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify the incorrect statements about various compounds of Beryllium (Be).
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
We review the properties of alkaline earth metal compounds, focusing on the anomalous behavior of Beryllium due to its small size and high polarizing power (Fajans' rules).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
• Let us evaluate each statement individually:
• Statement I: "Beryllium halides are covalent in nature."
This statement is correct. Because of the exceptionally small size of the $\text{Be}^{2+}$ ion, it has high charge density and highly polarizes anions, making its halides covalent.
• Statement II: "$\text{Be(OH)}_2$ is basic in nature."
This statement is incorrect. Unlike other alkaline earth metal hydroxides which are basic, Beryllium hydroxide is amphoteric and reacts with both acids and bases.
• Statement III: "$\text{BeCO}_3$ is unstable."
This statement is correct. The small $\text{Be}^{2+}$ ion cannot stably accommodate the large carbonate ($\text{CO}_3^{2-}$) ion in its lattice. Thus, Beryllium carbonate decomposes easily to BeO and $\text{CO}_2$.
• Statement IV: "BeO has rock salt structure."
This statement is incorrect. BeO has a hexagonal wurtzite (ZnS) structure because of the small coordination number (4) dictated by the small radius of the $\text{Be}^{2+}$ ion. It does not adopt the rock salt (NaCl) structure (coordination number 6).
• Therefore, statements II and IV are incorrect.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct option is (D), as statements II and IV are incorrect.