LITHIUM - LiAn alkali metal. A silvery-white. The easiest of the metals, soft, low melting. Reactive, air-oxide-nitride coated film. Ignited at a moderate heat, stains flame of a gas burner in a dark-red color. A strong reducing agent, reacts with water, acids, non-metals, ammonia.
Obtaining Lithium: 2LiH = 2Li + H2 (450°C). 2LiH (liquid) → Electrolysis → 2Li(on cathode) + H2↑(on anode). 2Li2O + Si = 4Li + SiO2 (1000°C). Li2O + Mg = 2Li + MgO (t> 800°C). 3Li2O + 2Al = 6Li + Al2O3 (t> 1000°C). 2LiCl(liquid) → Electrolysis 2Li(on cathode) + Cl2↑(on anode). 2LiCl(melt) (on Hg-cathode) → Electrolysis → 2Li(on cathode) + Cl2↑(on anode). 2Li3N = 6Li + N2 (300-500°C, vacuum). Reactions with Lithium: 2Li + 2H2O = 2LiOH + H2↑. 2Li + 2HCl(conc.) = 2LiCl + H2↑. 2Li + 3H2SO4(conc.) = 2LiHSO4 + SO2↑ + 2H2O. 3Li + 4HNO3(dilute) = 3LiNO3 + NO↑ + 2H2O. 2Li + H2 = 2LiH (500-700°C). 2Li + E2 = 2LiE (normal temp., E = F, Cl, Br; t>200°C, E = I). 4Li + O2 = 2Li2O (t>200°C, impurity Li2O2) 2Li + S = Li2S (t>130° C) 6Li + N2(moist) = 2Li3N (normal temp.) 6Li + N2 = 2Li3N (200-250°C, pressure) 2Li + 2C = Li2C2 (t>200°C, vacuum) 4Li + Si = Li4Si (600-700°C, impurity Li2Si) 2Li + 2NH3 = 2LiNH2 + H2 (220°C) 2Li + NH3 = Li2NH + H2 (400°C) Li + 4NH3 (liquid) = [Li(NH3)4]0 (blue) [-40°C] [Li(NH3)4]0 + nNH3(liquid) ↔ [Li(NH3)4]+ + e- + nNH3. |
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Hot peppers get their heat from a molecule called capsaicin. While the molecule acts as an irritant to mammals, including humans, birds lack the receptor responsible for the effect and are immune to the burning sensation from exposure.