Lithium oxide: Difference between revisions

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”’Lithium oxide”’ ([[Lithium|{{chem|Li|2}}]][[Oxygen|O]]) or ”’lithia”’ is an [[Inorganic compound|inorganic chemical compound]]. It is a white or pale yellow solid. Although not specifically important, many materials are assessed on the basis of their Li<sub>2</sub>O content. For example, the Li<sub>2</sub>O content of the principal lithium mineral [[spodumene]] (LiAlSi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>) is 8.03%.<ref name=Ullmann/>

”’Lithium oxide”’ ([[Lithium|{{chem|Li|2}}]][[Oxygen|O]]) or ”’lithia”’ is an [[Inorganic compound|inorganic chemical compound]]. It is a white or pale yellow solid. Although not specifically important, many materials are assessed on the basis of their Li<sub>2</sub>O content. For example, the Li<sub>2</sub>O content of the principal lithium mineral [[spodumene]] (LiAlSi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>) is 8.03%.<ref name=Ullmann/>

==Production==

==Production==


Latest revision as of 01:14, 30 November 2025

Lithium oxide
Names
IUPAC name

Lithium oxide

Other names

Lithia
Kickerite
Dilithium Monoxide
Dilithium Oxide

Identifiers
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.031.823 Edit this at Wikidata
RTECS number
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2Li.O/q2*+1;-2 checkY
    Key: FUJCRWPEOMXPAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1S/2Li.O/q2*+1;-2

    Key: FUJCRWPEOMXPAD-UHFFFAOYAW

  • Key: FUJCRWPEOMXPAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Properties
Li
2
O
Molar mass 29.88 g/mol
Appearance white or pale yellow 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
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):

Main hazards

Corrosive, reacts violently with water
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond

Health 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gas Flammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. water Instability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calcium Special hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g. sodium, sulfuric acid
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Lithium sulfide
Lithium selenide
Lithium telluride
Lithium polonide
Sodium oxide
Potassium oxide
Rubidium oxide
Caesium oxide
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).

Chemical compound

Lithium oxide (Li
2
O), or lithia, is an inorganic chemical compound. It is a white or pale yellow 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]

Burning lithium metal produces lithium oxide.

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

4Li + O
2
→ 2Li
2
O
.

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

2Li
2
O
2
→ 2Li
2
O
+ O
2

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

The ground state gas phase Li
2
O
molecule is linear with a bond length consistent with strong ionic bonding.[5][6] VSEPR theory would predict a bent shape similar to H
2
O
.

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.

Lithium oxide absorbs carbon dioxide forming lithium carbonate:

Li
2
O
+ CO
2
→ Li
2
CO
3

The oxide reacts slowly with water, forming lithium hydroxide:

Li
2
O
+ H
2
O
→ 2LiOH
  1. ^ Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1984). Chemistry of the Elements. Oxford: Pergamon Press. pp. 97–99. ISBN 978-0-08-022057-4.
  4. ^ Zintl, Eduard; Harder, A.; Dauth, B. (1934). “Gitterstruktur der Oxyde, Sulfide, Selenide und Telluride des Lithiums, Natriums und Kaliums”. Zeitschrift für Elektrochemie und Angewandte Physikalische Chemie (in German). 40 (8): 588–593. doi:10.1002/bbpc.19340400811. S2CID 94213844.
  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

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