metalresearcher
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What happens here (Li2CO3 + Al powder) ?
I was curious whether carbonates react with aluminum powder.
I know that K2CO3 + Al yields potassium metal vapor because K boils off and the equilibrium shifts to the right.
K2CO3 (l) + 2Al (l) (900 C) => 2K (g) + C (s), +Al2O3 (s)
I did that earlier in a retort to isolate the K successfully.
But Li has a much higher boiling point (1300 C) so it won't be reduced to elemental Li.
So what happens here: it does react, obviously exothermical.
Here a video what happened.
https://www.metallab.net/jwplayer/video.php?f=/forums/Li2CO3...
[Edited on 2025-2-16 by metalresearcher]
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clearly_not_atara
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My guess:
3 Li2CO3 + 2 Al >> 2 "Li3AlO3" + 3 CO
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Admagistr
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That is a very interesting observation! Al2O3 forms with Li2O various aluminates such as LiAlO2 and LiAl5O8. If there is metallic Li being formed, it
will burn off immediately on air, so there will be aluminates in the products, perhaps some unreacted Al2O3 and Li2O, possibly lithium nitride.
It is possible that the Li2CO3 acts as a catalyst for the burning of the aluminum. Burning aluminum will develop sufficient
temperature, up to about 2400 C , for eventual reduction of Li2CO3. Although Li has a high affinity for oxygen.
[Edited on 17-2-2025 by Admagistr]
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