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Water-reactive substances [1] are those that spontaneously undergo a chemical reaction with water, often noted as generating flammable gas. [2] Some are highly reducing in nature. [ 3 ] Notable examples include alkali metals , lithium through caesium , and alkaline earth metals , magnesium through barium .
Lithium will ignite and burn in oxygen when exposed to water or water vapor. In moist air, lithium rapidly tarnishes to form a black coating of lithium hydroxide (LiOH and LiOH·H 2 O), lithium nitride (Li 3 N) and lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 , the result of a secondary reaction between LiOH and CO 2 ). [ 48 ]
Even with this proviso, the electrode potentials of lithium and sodium – and hence their positions in the electrochemical series – appear anomalous. The order of reactivity, as shown by the vigour of the reaction with water or the speed at which the metal surface tarnishes in air, appears to be Cs > K > Na > Li > alkaline earth metals,
Tetralithiomethane hydrolyzes vigorously in contact with water producing methane gas and lithium hydroxide: [2] CLi 4 + 4 H 2 O → CH 4 + 4 LiOH. Deuterated methane CD 4 can also be produced by reacting heavy water with tetralithiomethane. CLi 4 + 4 D 2 O → CD 4 + 4 LiOD. When tetralithiomethane is heated to 225 °C, it decomposes to lithium ...
Lithium is widely distributed in the lithosphere and mantle as a trace element in silicate minerals. [1] Lithium concentrations are highest in the upper continental and oceanic crusts. Chemical weathering at Earth’s surface dissolves lithium in primary minerals and releases it to rivers and ground waters.
Lithium nitride is prepared by direct reaction of elemental lithium with nitrogen gas: [2] 6 Li + N 2 → 2 Li 3 N. Instead of burning lithium metal in an atmosphere of nitrogen, a solution of lithium in liquid sodium metal can be treated with N 2. Lithium nitride must be protected from moisture as it reacts violently with water to produce ammonia:
Lithium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula LiOH. It can exist as anhydrous or hydrated, and both forms are white hygroscopic solids. They are soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol. Both are available commercially. While classified as a strong base, lithium hydroxide is the weakest known alkali metal hydroxide.
Lithium chloride is a chemical compound with the formula Li Cl.The salt is a typical ionic compound (with certain covalent characteristics), although the small size of the Li + ion gives rise to properties not seen for other alkali metal chlorides, such as extraordinary solubility in polar solvents (83.05 g/100 mL of water at 20 °C) and its hygroscopic properties.