Lithium Chloride

Brief Overview

Lithium Chloride is extremely soluble in polar solvents such as water due to the small size of Li+ ion. LiCl form crystalline hydrates, unlike other alkali metal chlorides. The anhydrous salt can be regenerated by heating the hydrates. LiCl also absorbs up to four equivalents of ammonia/mol.

Manufacturing Process

There are many ways of manufacturing Lithium Chloride:

Method 1: Lithium chloride may be prepared by reaction of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid followed by crystallization:

Crystallization above 95°C yields anhydrous salt. Hot solution upon cooling forms crystals of monohydrate, LiCl.H2O.

Method 2: Reaction of lithium ores with chlorides or natural brines.

Chemical Industry:

Mainly used to produce lithium metal by electrolysis of a LiCl/KCl which melts at 450 °C (842 °F)
Also used as a brazing flux for aluminium in automobile parts.
An additive in the Stille reaction in organic synthesis.

Other Applications:

Flame colourant to produce dark, red flames
Preparation of carbon nanotubes, graphene and lithium niobite
The desiccant in dehumidification systems.