metalresearcher - 13-11-2011 at 09:14
Mixing 0.5g Mg powder + 1g Li2CO3 and putting it in a steel retort which I heated to red hot resulted in a red flare as a result of a vigorous
reaction. After allowing the retort to cool and opening it, a black powder was tht result. It did not react with water nor did it dissolve.
I hoped to get some Li metal but no avail.
What happened ?
Adas - 13-11-2011 at 09:44
2 Mg + Li2CO3 ----> Li2O + 2 MgO + C
blogfast25 - 13-11-2011 at 11:31
The only real way to make lithium metal is by electrolysis. All other methods will either yield no metal or poor quality crap, embedded in slag from
which it cannot be separated adequately.