General Description
A clear to water-white liquid which may have a pungent odor. Contact may cause severe irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. LITHIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLUTION(1310-65-2) may be toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. LITHIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLUTION(1310-65-2) is used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
LITHIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION neutralizes acids exothermically to form salts plus water. Reacts with certain metals (such as aluminum and zinc) to form oxides or hydroxides of the metal and generate gaseous hydrogen. May initiate polymerization reactions in polymerizable organic compounds, especially epoxides. May generate flammable and/or toxic gases with ammonium salts, nitrides, halogenated organics, various metals, peroxides, and hydroperoxides. May serve as a catalyst. Reacts when heated above about 84°C with aqueous solutions of reducing sugars other than sucrose, to evolve toxic levels of carbon monoxide [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995].
Air & Water Reactions
Dilution with water may generate enough heat to cause steaming or spattering.
Health Hazard
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.
Chemical Properties
lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is a white solid made industrially as the monohydrate (LiOH.H2O) by reacting lime with a lithium ore or with a salt made from the ore. Lithium hydroxide has a closer resemblance to the group 2 hydroxides than to the group 1 hydroxides.
Definition
A white crystallinesolid, LiOH, soluble in water,slightly soluble in ethanol and insolublein ether. It is known as the monohydrate(monoclinic; r.d. 1.51) and inthe anhydrous form (tetragonal, r.d.1.46; m.p. 450°C; decomposes at924°C). The compound is made by reacting lime with lithium salts orlithium ores. Lithium hydroxide isbasic but has a closer resemblance togroup 2 hydroxides than to the othergroup 1 hydroxides (an example ofthe first member of a periodic grouphaving atypical properties).
Purification Methods
It crystallises from hot water (3mL/g) as the monohydrate. It is dehydrated at 150o in a stream of CO2-free air. It sublimes at 220o with partial decomposition [Cohen Inorg Synth V 3 1957, Bravo Inorg Synth VII 1 1963].
