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.
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| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
Lithium hydroxide | |
| Identifiers | |
 Y | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.013.804 
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| 68415 | |
PubChem CID |
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII |
Y |
| UN number | 2680 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| LiOH | |
| Molar mass |
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| Appearance | Hygroscopic white solid |
| Odor | none |
| Density |
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| Melting point | 462 °C (864 °F; 735 K) |
| Boiling point | 924 °C (1,695 °F; 1,197 K) (decomposes) |
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| Solubilityinmethanol |
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| Solubilityinethanol |
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| Solubilityinisopropanol |
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| Acidity (pKa) | 14.4[3] |
| Conjugate base | Lithium monoxide anion |
| −12.3·10−6cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD) |
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| 4.754 D[4] | |
| Thermochemistry[5] | |
Heat capacity (C) |
49.6 J/(mol·K) |
Std molar |
42.8 J/(mol·K) |
Std enthalpy of |
−487.5 kJ/mol |
Gibbs free energy (ΔfG⦵) |
−441.5 kJ/mol |
Enthalpy of fusion (ΔfH⦵fus) |
20.9 kJ/mol (at melting point) |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Corrosive |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose) |
210 mg/kg (oral, rat)[6] |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | "ICSC 0913". "ICSC 0914". (monohydrate) |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions |
Lithium amide |
Other cations |
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Related compounds |
Lithium oxide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
The preferred feedstock is hard-rock spodumene, where the lithium content is expressed as % lithium oxide.
Lithium hydroxide is often produced industrially from lithium carbonate in a metathesis reaction with calcium hydroxide:[7]
The initially produced hydrate is dehydrated by heating under vacuum up to 180 °C.
An alternative route involves the intermediacy of lithium sulfate:[8][9]
The main by-products are gypsum and sodium sulphate, which have some market value.
According to Bloomberg, Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd.[10] (GFL or Ganfeng)[11] and Albemarle were the largest producers in 2020 with around 25kt/y, followed by Livent Corporation (FMC) and SQM.[10] Significant new capacity is planned, to keep pace with demand driven by vehicle electrification. Ganfeng are to expand lithium chemical capacity to 85,000 tons, adding the capacity leased from Jiangte, Ganfeng will become the largest lithium hydroxide producer globally in 2021.[10]
Albemarle's Kemerton WA plant, originally planned to deliver 100kt/y has been scaled back to 50kt/y.[12]
In 2020 Tianqi Lithium's, plant in Kwinana, Western Australia is the largest producer, with a capacity of 48kt/y.[13]
Lithium hydroxide is mainly consumed in the production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) and lithium iron phosphate. It is preferred over lithium carbonate as a precursor for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides.[14]
A popular lithium grease thickener is lithium 12-hydroxystearate, which produces a general-purpose lubricating grease due to its high resistance to water and usefulness at a range of temperatures.
Lithium hydroxide is used in breathing gas purification systems for spacecraft, submarines, and rebreathers to remove carbon dioxide from exhaled gas by producing lithium carbonate and water:[15]
or
The latter, anhydrous hydroxide, is preferred for its lower mass and lesser water production for respirator systems in spacecraft. One gram of anhydrous lithium hydroxide can remove 450 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas. The monohydrate loses its water at 100–110 °C.
Lithium hydroxide, together with lithium carbonate, is a key intermediates used for the production of other lithium compounds, illustrated by its use in the production of lithium fluoride:[7]
It is also used in ceramics and some Portland cement formulations, where it is also used to suppress ASR (concrete cancer).[16]
Lithium hydroxide (isotopically enrichedinlithium-7) is used to alkalize the reactor coolant in pressurized water reactors for corrosion control.[17] It is good radiation protection against free neutrons.
In 2012, the price of lithium hydroxide was about US$5–6/kg.[18]
In December 2020, it had risen to $9/kg[19]
On 18 March 2021, the price had risen to $11.50/kg[20]
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