Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Lithium chloride
| Lithium chloride | |
| IUPAC name lithium chloride | |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | LiCl |
| Molecular weight | 42.39 amu |
| Appearance | white crystalline solid |
| CAS number | [7447-41-8] |
| MSDS | Lithium chloride MSDS |
| Other names | |
|
none | |
| Bulk properties | |
| Density | 2.07 g/cm3 |
| Solubility | water_(molecule): 63.7 g/100 cm3 (0 °C)
methanol: 42.4 g/100 cm3 (25 °C) acetone: 4.11g/100 cm3 (25 °C) |
| Melting point | 605 °C (878 K) |
| Boiling point | >1300 °C (>1570 K) |
| Hazards: | Irritant |
| Structure | |
| Coordination geometry | ? |
| Crystal structure | cubic |
| Hydrates | monohydrate |
| Related compounds | |
| lithium fluoride
lithium bromide lithium iodide | sodium chloride |
| Contents |
Overview
Lithium chloride behaves as a fairly typical ionic compound, although the Li+ ion is very small. The salt is hygroscopic and highly soluble in water, and is highly polar. It is more soluble in polar organic solvents such as methanol and acetone than is sodium chloride or potassium chloride.
Chemical properties
Lithium chloride can react as a source of chloride ion. As with any other soluble ionic chloride, it will precipitate insoluble chlorides when added to a solution of an appropriate metal salt such as lead(II) nitrate:
2 LiCl(aq) + Pb(NO3)2(aq) -----> PbCl2(s) + 2 LiNO3(aq)
The Li+ ion acts as a weak Lewis acid under certain circumstances.
Preparation
Lithium chloride may be prepared most simply by reaction of lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate with hydrochloric acid. It may also be prepared by the highly exothermic reaction of lithium metal with either chlorine or anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas.
Uses
Lithium chloride is used for the production of lithium metal, by electrolysis of a LiCl/KCl melt at 450 °C. LiCl is also used as a brazing flux for aluminium in automobile parts.
Precautions
Suppliers/Manufacturers
References
- Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 71st edition, CRC Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1990.
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