Difference between revisions of "Lithium hydroxide"
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| − | Lithium hydroxide is a a white hygroscopic solid. It is the weakest alkali metal hydroxides. The density of | + | Lithium hydroxide is a a white hygroscopic solid. It is the weakest alkali metal hydroxides. The density of anhydrous lithium hydroxide is 1.46 g/cm<sup>3</sup> and 1.51 g/cm<sup>3</sup> for the monohydrate form. It is soluble in water and slightly less in [[ethanol]]. Lithium hydroxide melts at 462 °C and decomposes at 924 °C. |
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
Revision as of 16:51, 17 November 2015
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Lithium hydroxide is a solid white inorganic compound, with the chemical formula LiOH.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
Lithium hydroxide is corrosive and will slowly attack glass in aqueous solution. It will react with carbon dioxide from air to form lithium carbonate.
- 2 LiOH + CO2 → Li2CO3 + H2O
Because of its low density and it's ability to absorb it's weight of carbon dioxide, anhydrous lithium hydroxide is used as a chemical scrubber on submarines and space vehicles.
Physical
Lithium hydroxide is a a white hygroscopic solid. It is the weakest alkali metal hydroxides. The density of anhydrous lithium hydroxide is 1.46 g/cm3 and 1.51 g/cm3 for the monohydrate form. It is soluble in water and slightly less in ethanol. Lithium hydroxide melts at 462 °C and decomposes at 924 °C.
Availability
Corroded lithium batteries contain a mixture of lithium oxide, lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. Adding a solution of calcium hydroxide will convert the carbonate to hydroxide.
Lithium hydroxide is sold by chemical suppliers.
Preparation
Lithium hydroxide can be prepared by mixing two solutions of lithium carbonate and calcium hydroxide.
- Li2CO3 + Ca(OH)2 → 2 LiOH + CaCO3
Lithium oxide will slowly convert to lithium hydroxide in moist air.
- 2 Li2O + 2 H2O → 2 LiOH
The presence of carbon dioxide in moist air will result in lithium carbonate.
Another way is to simply add lithium metal extracted from alkali batteries in water.
- 2 Li + 2 H2O → 2 LiOH + H2
However this method consumes the expensive metal.
Projects
- Make lithium chloride
Handling
Safety
Lithium hydroxide is corrosive to all tissues and it must be handled with proper protection for alkali hydroxides.
Storage
In closed thick PE bottles, away from corrosive vapors and moisture.
Disposal
Best to try to recycle it.
