Lithium Chloride

Lithium Chloride

Lithium chloride is used in coating products, metal surface treatment products, non-metal-surface treatment products, adhesives and sealants, inks and toners, pH regulators and water treatment products, photo-chemicals, polishes and waxes, and welding & soldering products.

However, 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.

Preferred IUPAC name: Lithium chloride

Systematic IUPAC name: Lithium(1+) chloride

CAS Number: 7447-41-8 

EC Number: 231-212-3

EC / List no.: 231-212-3

CAS no.: 7447-41-8

Mol. formula: ClLi

Chemical properties of Lithium Chloride:

Color produced when lithium chloride is heated

The salt forms crystalline hydrates, unlike the other alkali metal chlorides.

Mono-, tri-, and pentahydrates are known.

The anhydrous salt can be regenerated by heating the hydrates. 

LiCl also absorbs up to four equivalents of ammonia/mol. 

As with any other ionic chloride, solutions of lithium chloride can serve as a source of chloride ion, e.g., forming a precipitate upon treatment with silver nitrate:

LiCl + AgNO3 → AgCl + LiNO3

Chemical formula: LiCl

Molar mass: 42.39 g·mol−1

Appearance: white solid hygroscopic, sharp

Density: 2.068 g/cm3

Melting point: 605–614 °C (1,121–1,137 °F; 878–887 K)

Boiling point: 1,382 °C (2,520 °F; 1,655 K)

Solubility in water

68.29 g/100 mL (0 °C)

74.48 g/100 mL (10 °C)

84.25 g/100 mL (25 °C)

88.7 g/100 mL (40 °C)

123.44 g/100 mL (100 °C)

Solubility: soluble in hydrazine, methyl formamide, butanol, selenium(IV) oxychloride, propanol

Solubility in methanol

45.2 g/100 g (0 °C)

43.8 g/100 g (20 °C)

42.36 g/100 g (25 °C)

44.6 g/100 g (60 °C)

Solubility in ethanol

14.42 g/100 g (0 °C)

24.28 g/100 g (20 °C)

25.1 g/100 g (30 °C)

23.46 g/100 g (60 °C)

Solubility in formic acid

26.6 g/100 g (18 °C)

27.5 g/100 g (25 °C)

Solubility in acetone

1.2 g/100 g (20 °C)

0.83 g/100 g (25 °C)

0.61 g/100 g (50 °C)

Solubility in liquid ammonia

0.54 g/100 g (-34 °C)

3.02 g/100 g (25 °C)

Vapor pressure

1 torr (785 °C)

10 torr (934 °C)

100 torr (1130 °C)

Magnetic susceptibility (χ): −24.3·10−6 cm3/mol

Refractive index (nD): 1.662 (24 °C)

Viscosity: 0.87 cP (807 °C

Structure

Coordination geometry: Octahedral

Molecular shape: Linear (gas)

Dipole moment: 7.13 D (gas)

Thermochemistry

Heat capacity (C): 48.03 J/mol·K

Std molar entropy (S⦵298): 59.31 J/mol·K

Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298): -408.27 kJ/mol

Gibbs free energy (ΔfG⦵): -384 kJ/mol

Preparation of Lithium chloride:

Lithium chloride is produced by the treatment of lithium carbonate with hydrochloric acid.

Anhydrous LiCl is prepared from the hydrate by heating in a stream of hydrogen chloride.

Uses of Lithium chloride:

Commercial applications of Lithium chloride:

Lithium chloride is mainly used to produce lithium metal by electrolysis of a LiCl/KCl melt at 450 °C (842 °F). 

LiCl is also used as a brazing flux for aluminum in automobile parts. 

It is used as a desiccant for drying air streams.

Lithium chloride is used in organic synthesis in more specialized applications, e.g., as an additive in the Stille reaction. 

Also, it can be used in biochemical applications to precipitate RNA from cellular extracts.

Lithium chloride is also a flame colorant to produce dark red flames.

Lithium chloride, one of the most well-known mood stabilizers with antisuicidal effects, is currently utilized as an agent for acute mania and a maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder.

Lithium metal is produced by electrolysis of lithium chloride and potassium chloride, which melts at 450°C. 

High-purity lithium chloride is used as the feedstock in the process and makes about 99.5% pure lithium metal.

Molten lithium is contained in a carbon steel pot, while the chlorine gas is collected in a stainless steel or glass pipe for applications in other processes. 

The molten lithium flows into a collecting tank and is later cast into ingots. 

A mesh or stainless-steel screen separates the two compartments to prevent the products from mixing.

Other Applications of Lithium Chloride

Lithium chloride is used as a flame colorant to form dark crimson flames.

Lithium chloride is used in the precipitation of RNA in biological applications.

Lithium chloride is an aluminum blazing flux in automobile parts.

Lithium chloride is used for soldering, welding techniques, and salt bath heat treatment at low temperatures.

Lithium chloride is used in massive dehumidification systems in the Air Conditioning industry.

This depends on the low equilibrium pressure of vapor above lithium chloride solutions.

LiCl acts as a highly effective catalyst for cyanosilylation of various aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding silylated cyanohydrins

Niche uses of Lithium chloride: 

Lithium chloride is used as a relative humidity standard in calibrating hygrometers. 

At 25 °C (77 °F), a saturated solution (45.8%) of the salt will yield an equilibrium relative humidity of 11.30%. 

Additionally, lithium chloride can be used as a hygrometer. 

This deliquescent salt forms a self-solution when exposed to air. 

The equilibrium LiCl concentration in the resulting solution is directly related to the relative humidity of the air. 

The percent relative humidity at 25 °C (77 °F) can be estimated, with minimal error in the range 10–30 °C (50–86 °F), from the following first-order equation: RH=107.93-2.11C, where C is solution LiCl concentration, percent by mass.

Molten LiCl is used to prepare carbon nanotubes, graphene, and lithium niobate.

Lithium chloride has been shown to have acaricidal solid properties, being effective against Varroa destructor in populations of honey bees.

Lithium chloride is used as an aversive agent in lab animals to study conditioned place preference and aversion.

Lithium Chloride is an electrolyte for low-temperature dry battery cells and an oxidation catalyst. 

Lithium Chloride is a solubilizer for polyamides and cellulose when used with amide solvents and is a chlorinating agent for steroid substrates. 

Lithium Chloride is highly hygroscopic and is widely used in dehumidification systems to remove moisture from the air in industries such as food processing and horticulture. 

Lithium Chloride is also used as a tracer for wastewater, a brazing flux, and an electrolyte component for manufacturing specialty batteries.

LiCl is utilized in vehicle battery applications. 

The LiCl industry is expected to benefit from increased consumption of LiCl in biomedicine. 

The recent worldwide trend of electrification of cars is expected to drive revenue growth in the market. 

Rising demand for lithium metal manufacturing paired with its increasing applicability in electricity and transportation advancements are expected to drive market revenue growth since it is utilized as feed material. 

LiCl is used as an electrolyte in nuclear fuel reprocessing. 

Manufacturers place a premium on battery performance, affordability, and safety. 

Due to its capacity to store up to 150 watt-hours of electricity inside 1 kilogram of battery, lithium chloride is predicted to be used more frequently across the electronics sector in tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and cameras

They favor this product for this purpose; this has increased demand for mobile devices and gadgets that utilize lithium batteries. 

Over the years, LiCl has also grown due to developments in the biomedical industry since it is utilized for RNA extraction.

Lithium chloride has been reported as a potential antiviral drug for specific viruses. 

It can efficiently impair the replication of various viruses, including infectious bronchitis coronavirus (IBV) and transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV). 

The drug demand for lithium chloride witnessed a sharp incline. 

The growth of the pharmaceutical industry during the pandemic also positively impacted the global lithium chloride market.

Precautions

Lithium salts affect the central nervous system in a variety of ways. 

While citrate, carbonate, and orotate salts are currently used to treat bipolar disorder, other lithium salts, including chloride, were used in the past. 

For a short time in the 1940s, lithium chloride was manufactured as a salt substitute for people with hypertension, but this was prohibited after the toxic effects of the compound (tremors, fatigue, nausea) were recognized.

It was, however, noted by J. H. Talbott that many symptoms attributed to lithium chloride toxicity may have also been attributable to sodium chloride deficiency, to the diuretics often administered to patients who were given lithium chloride, or to their underlying conditions.

Acute and short-term toxicity of Lithium Chloride:

Animal

The LD50 of lithium chloride following subcutaneous administration in mice was ∼17–19 mmol kg−1 (∼700–800 mg kg−1).

The acute oral LD50 in rats is ∼500 mg kg−1. 

Acute lithium exposure elicits excessive urination and polydipsia. 

Lithium hydride is highly toxic (the only lithium salt to be so) (Bernard, 2022; McKnight et al., 2012).

Human

Lithium hydride rapidly converts to lithium hydroxide in contact with water. 

Lithium hydride is corrosive to all tissues, outer skin, and lung cells.

Substance names and other identifiers

Regulatory process names

Lithium chloride

EC Inventory

lithium chloride

Pre-Registration process

Lithium chloride (LiCl)

IUPAC names

LITHIUM CHLORIDE

Lithium Chloride

Lithium chloride

lithium chloride

Lithium Chloride

Lithium Chloride Anhydrous

Lithium chloride anhydrous

Lithium chloride, anhydrous

Lithium monochloride

lithium(1+) chloride

lithium(1+) ion chloride

LITHIUM-CHLORIDE-

lithium;chloride

lithiumchloride

lithuim chloride

Trade names and Synonyms: 

Chloride Lithium Anhydrous

Lithium chloride

LITHIUM CHLORIDE

7447-41-8

LiCl

Lithiumchloride

chlorure de lithium

Chlorku litu

chlorolithium

Lithiumchlorid

Lithium chloride (LiCl)

lithium;chloride

ClLi

Chlorku litu [Polish]

CCRIS 5924

CHEBI:48607

lithii chloridum

HSDB 4281

Luthium chloride

Lithium Cholride

cloruro de litio

Lithium chloride (powder)

EINECS 231-212-3

MFCD00011078

Chlorure de lithium [French]

NSC 327172

UNII-G4962QA067

LITHIUM MURIATICUM

G4962QA067

NSC-327172

LithiumChlorideGr(Anhydrous)

CHEMBL69710

DTXSID2025509

EC 231-212-3

NSC327172

Lithium Chloride, Anhydrous

Lithium chloride, ultra dry

Chloride, Lithium

2M Lithium Chloride Electrolyte, Electrode Filling Solution

Lithium Chloride (2.3% in Tetrahydrofuran, ca. 0.5mol/L)

lithim chloride

Lithium chloride, anhydrous, chunks, 99.99% trace metals basis

Cloruro de litio (licl)

Lopac-L-4408

LITHIUM MONOCHLORIDE

D07WXT

MolMap_000071

WLN: LI G

Lithium chloride, ACS grade

Lopac0_000604

LITHIUM CHLORIDE [MI]

Lithium chloride battery grade

Lithium chloride, ACS reagent

DTXCID105509

LITHIUM CHLORIDE [HSDB]

LITHIUM CHLORIDE [INCI]

LITHIUM MURIATICUM [HPUS]

KWGKDLIKAYFUFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M

LITHIUM CHLORIDE [WHO-DD]

Lithium chloride, 3-5% in THF

HMS3261J10

Tox21_500604

BDBM50494542

AKOS015902822

AKOS015950647

AKOS024438070

CCG-204693

lithium chloride, gamma irradiated, 8m

LP00604

LS-1644

SDCCGSBI-0050586.P002

Lithium chloride, ACS reagent, >=99%

Lithium chloride, ReagentPlus(R), 99%

NCGC00015607-01

NCGC00015607-02

NCGC00015607-03

NCGC00015607-04

NCGC00015607-07

NCGC00093980-01

NCGC00093980-02

NCGC00261289-01

BP-13612

SY002997

Lithium chloride, Vetec(TM) reagent grade

EU-0100604

FT-0627896

L0204

L0222

Lithium chloride, Trace metals grade 99.9%

L 4408

Lithium chloride, SAJ first grade, >=98.0%

Lithium chloride, for molecular biology, >=99%

Lithium chloride, SAJ special grade, >=99.0%

A838146

Lithium chloride, BioXtra, >=99.0% (titration)

Q422930

SR-01000076252

SR-01000076252-1

Lithium chloride, powder, >=99.99% trace metals basis

Lithium chloride, puriss. p.a., anhydrous, >=99.0% (AT)

Lithium chloride, anhydrous, beads, -10 mesh, >=99.9% trace metals basis

Lithium chloride, anhydrous, beads, -10 mesh, 99.998% trace metals basis

Lithium chloride, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, anhydrous, >=99.0% (AT)

Lithium chloride, anhydrous, free-flowing, Redi-Dri(TM), ACS reagent, >=99%

Lithium chloride, anhydrous, free-flowing, Redi-Dri(TM), ReagentPlus(R), 99%

Lithium chloride, BioUltra, for molecular biology, anhydrous, >=99.0% (AT)

59217-69-5

OTHER PRODUCTS OF ATAMAN CHEMICALS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST:

Lithium fluoride

Lithium bromide

Lithium Hydroxide

Lithium Carbonate

Lithium iodide

Lithium astatide