Dr.Shehla Akbar Presented By Ayesha Riaz Roll no. 1409 Subject Instrumentation Topic Lithium Carbonate
Lahore College Of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Objective Introduction of lithium carbonate Occurrence of lithium carbonate Properties of lithium carbonate Preparation of lithium carbonate Application of lithium carbonate
Lithium carbonate is an inorganic compound, the
lithium salt of carbonate with the formula Li 2CO 3. This white salt is widely used in the processing of metal oxides. Lithium carbonate is found in ores together other minerals. It can be extracted easily because it is vigorously soluble in water, thus the hot water is used to isolate from other chemical compounds present in ores. Due to its high reactivity lithium is not found in its native state. It’s main sources are igneous rocks and brine. The main igneous rocks used as sources of lithium are: • Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) – The most abundant and important of the lithium containing ores. Found in North America, Brazil, USSR, Spain, Africa, and Argentina. • Lepidolite (K2Li3Al4Si7O21(OH,F)3) – Found in Canada and Africa. • Petalite (LiAlSi4O10) – Found in Africa and Sweden. • Amblygonite LiAl(F,OH)PO)4 - not a common source of lithium. Lithium is also extracted from brine by evaporation. Places where this occurs include Searle Lake (California, USA) and Clayton Valley (Nevada, USA). Lithium salts colour flames bright red. Lithium is a soft silvery white metal. It is not used for structural applications. Lithium reacts with water, but not as vigorously as sodium and potassium. For this reason it is usually stored in oil. Lithium has the highest specific heat of any solid elements. It is insoluble in ammonia,acetone and alcohol. It is odorless white powder. lithium carbonate exists only in the anhydrous form Lithium is extracted from primarily two sources: pegmatite crystals and lithium salt from brine pools. About 30,000 tons were produced in 1989. It also exists as the rare mineral zabuyelite. Lithium carbonate is generated by combining lithium peroxide with carbon dioxide. This reaction is the basis of certain air purifiers, e.g., in spacecraft, used to absorb carbon dioxide: 2 Li 2O 2 + 2 CO 2 → 2 Li 2CO3 + O2 Applications of lithium include: Alloying additions in particular for aluminum and magnesium alloys Additions for ceramics and glass Lubricants and greases Rocket propellant Batteries Lithium carbonate, to be used to treat mania associated with bipolar disorder.