General Description
Colorless crystals or powder. Low toxicity.
Reactivity Profile
These materials have weak oxidizing or reducing powers. Redox reactions can however still occur. For example, CO2, which is often regarded as chemically inert, vigorously oxidizes the strong reducing agent Mg if the two are heated together. The majority of compounds in this class are slightly soluble or insoluble in water. If soluble in water, then the solutions are usually neither strongly acidic nor strongly basic. These compounds are not water-reactive. Some do react with acids: carbonates generate carbon dioxide and heat when treated with acids; fluorides, sulfites and sulfides generate toxic gases (hydrogen fluoride, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, respectively) when treated with acids.
Air & Water Reactions
Very hygroscopic. Very soluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available. LITHIUM CHLORIDE is probably combustible.
Physical properties
White cubic crystals; granules or powder; hygroscopic; sharp salt-like taste; refractive index 1.662; density 2.068 g/cm3; melts at 605°C; vaporizes around 1,360°C; readily dissolves in water (64g/100mL at 0°C); also highly soluble in alcohol and pyridine; moderately soluble in acetone (4.1 g/100mL at 25°C).
Definition
ChEBI: A metal chloride salt with a Li(+) counterion.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Biochem/physiol Actions
Lithium chloride has the ability to block glycogen synthase kinase (GSK). It may also possess anti-inflammatory effects at low and non-toxic concentrations.
Purification Methods
Crystallise it from water (1mL/g) or MeOH and dry it for several hours at 130o. Other metal ions can be removed by preliminary crystallisation from hot aqueous 0.01M disodium EDTA. It has also been crystallised from conc HCl, fused in an atmosphere of dry HCl gas, cooled under dry N2 and pulverised in a dry-box. Kolthoff and Bruckenstein [J Am Chem Soc 74 2529 1952] precipitated it with ammonium carbonate, washed it with Li2CO3 five times by decantation and finally with suction, then dissolved it in HCl. The LiCl solution is evaporated slowly with continuous stirring in a large evaporating dish, the dry powder being stored (while still hot) in a desiccator over CaCl2.
