Chemistry:Lithium oxide

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Lithium oxide
Lithium-oxide-unit-cell-3D-balls-B.png
Lithium-oxide-unit-cell-3D-ionic.png
CaF2 polyhedra.png
__ Li+     __ O2−
Li2O.jpg
Names
IUPAC name
Lithium oxide
Other names
Lithia
Kickerite
Dilithium Monoxide
Dilithium Oxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
RTECS number
  • OJ6360000
UNII
Properties
Li2O
Molar mass 29.88 g/mol
Appearance white solid
Density 2.013 g/cm3
Melting point 1,438 °C (2,620 °F; 1,711 K)
Boiling point 2,600 °C (4,710 °F; 2,870 K)
Reacts to form LiOH
log P 9.23
1.644 [1]
Structure
Antifluorite (cubic), cF12
Fm3m, No. 225
Tetrahedral (Li+); cubic (O2−)
Thermochemistry
1.8105 J/g K or 54.1 J/mol K
37.89 J/mol K
-20.01 kJ/g or -595.8 kJ/mol
-562.1 kJ/mol
Hazards
Main hazards Corrosive, reacts violently with water
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterHealth code 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gasReactivity code 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g. sodium, sulfuric acidNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
0
3
1
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions
Lithium sulfide
Lithium selenide
Lithium telluride
Lithium polonide
Other cations
Sodium oxide
Potassium oxide
Rubidium oxide
Caesium oxide
Related lithium oxides
Lithium peroxide
Lithium superoxide
Related compounds
Lithium hydroxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Lithium oxide (Li2O) or lithia is an inorganic chemical compound. It is a white solid. Although not specifically important, many materials are assessed on the basis of their Li2O content. For example, the Li2O content of the principal lithium mineral spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) is 8.03%.[2]

Production

Burning lithium metal produces lithium oxide.

Lithium oxide forms along with small amounts of lithium peroxide when lithium metal is burned in the air at and combines with oxygen at temperatures above 100 °C:[3]

4Li + O2 → 2Li2O.

Pure Li2O can be produced by the thermal decomposition of lithium peroxide, Li2O2, at 450 °C[3][2]

2Li2O2 → 2Li2O + O2

Structure

Solid lithium oxide adopts an antifluorite structure with four-coordinated Li+ centers and eight-coordinated oxides.[4]

The ground state gas phase Li2O molecule is linear with a bond length consistent with strong ionic bonding.[5][6] VSEPR theory would predict a bent shape similar to H2O.

Uses

Lithium oxide is used as a flux in ceramic glazes; and creates blues with copper and pinks with cobalt. Lithium oxide reacts with water and steam, forming lithium hydroxide and should be isolated from them.

Its usage is also being investigated for non-destructive emission spectroscopy evaluation and degradation monitoring within thermal barrier coating systems. It can be added as a co-dopant with yttria in the zirconia ceramic top coat, without a large decrease in expected service life of the coating. At high heat, lithium oxide emits a very detectable spectral pattern, which increases in intensity along with degradation of the coating. Implementation would allow in situ monitoring of such systems, enabling an efficient means to predict lifetime until failure or necessary maintenance.

Lithium metal might be obtained from lithium oxide by electrolysis, releasing oxygen as by-product.

Reactions

Lithium oxide absorbs carbon dioxide forming lithium carbonate:

Li2O + CO2Li2CO3

The oxide reacts slowly with water, forming lithium hydroxide:

Li2O + H2O → 2LiOH

See also

References

  1. Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN:0-07-049439-8
  2. 2.0 2.1 Wietelmann, Ulrich and Bauer, Richard J. (2005) "Lithium and Lithium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH: Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a15_393.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1984). Chemistry of the Elements. Oxford: Pergamon Press. pp. 97–99. ISBN 978-0-08-022057-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=OezvAAAAMAAJ&q=0-08-022057-6&dq=0-08-022057-6&source=bl&ots=m4tIRxdwSk&sig=XQTTjw5EN9n5z62JB3d0vaUEn0Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UoAWUN7-EM6ziQfyxIDoCQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBA. 
  4. "Gitterstruktur der Oxyde, Sulfide, Selenide und Telluride des Lithiums, Natriums und Kaliums" (in de). Zeitschrift für Elektrochemie und Angewandte Physikalische Chemie 40 (8): 588–593. 1934. doi:10.1002/bbpc.19340400811. 
  5. Wells A. F. (1984) Structural Inorganic Chemistry 5th edition Oxford Science Publications ISBN:0-19-855370-6
  6. A spectroscopic determination of the bond length of the LiOLi molecule: Strong ionic bonding, D. Bellert, W. H. Breckenridge, J. Chem. Phys. 114, 2871 (2001); doi:10.1063/1.1349424

External links