Hidróxido de lítio monohidratado

A principal use of lithium hydroxide monohydrate is as a starting material for numerous other lithium chemicals such as lithium fluoride, lithium chloride, lithium bromide and lithium iodide. Since these materials are prepared in aqueous solutions, there is no particular advantage in using the anhydrous hydroxide for the preparation. Other salts of weak and strong acids may be prepared using lithium hydroxide as a starting material. The preparation of anhydrous lithium hydroxide has already been described.A major use of lithium hydroxide monohydrate is in the preparation of lithium salts of fatty acids (lithium soaps) which, with mineral oil and other additives, are used to make lithium-based greases3 6 . Such greases are superior to those based on other metal ions. Lithium greases are good lubricants at high temperatures and are particularly good at low temperatures. They also resist the deteriorating effect of water satisfactorily due to the low water solubility of lithium soaps.Both lithium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide monohydrate absorb carbon dioxide readily. Anhydrous lithium hydroxide is used effectively as a carbon dioxide absorbent in life support systems in underwater and aerospace applications.
Both lithium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide monohydrate are colorless crystalline solids at ordinary temperatures. Both are strong bases and should be handled with caution in order to avoid caustic burns. Evaporation of a solution of lithium hydroxide under normal conditions of temperature and pressure results in precipitation of the monohydrate which may be readily dehydrated by heating in a vacuum or under cover of an inert gas.Lithium hydroxide absorbs water from the air and forms lithium hydroxide monohydrate except under dry atmospheric conditions. Two equilibrium vapor pressures for the conversion of lithium hydroxide monohydrate to anhydrous lithium hydroxide are 4 torr at 25°C and 12 torr at 40°C.