Question

What happens when Lithium carbonate is heated?

Answer 1

Hint: Lithium carbonate is an inorganic compound with the formula $L{i_2}C{O_3}$. It is the lithium salt of carbonate. This white salt is commonly used in the processing of metal oxides and as a mood-altering medication.

Complete answer: Lithium oxy-salts are heat unstable and decompose when heated, forming the stable oxide. Lithium carbonate decomposes into lithium oxide and carbon dioxide when heated.
\[L{i_2}C{O_3} \to L{i_2}O + C{O_2}\]
Lithium carbonate, along with other minerals, can be found in ores. Because it is insoluble in water, it is easily extracted, and hot water is used to separate it from other chemical compounds found in ores.
Chemical synthesis can be used to make lithium carbonate, but it is most commonly extracted from minerals. There are a few chemical methods for making lithium carbonate, but the most common is the reaction of lithium hydroxide or lithium chloride with sodium carbonate in water, which results in a lithium carbonate precipitate:
\[2{\text{ }}LiOH{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}N{a_2}C{O_3}\; \to {\text{ }}L{i_2}C{O_3}\; + {\text{ }}2{\text{ }}NaOH\]
\[2{\text{ }}LiCl{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}N{a_2}C{O_3}\; \to {\text{ }}L{i_2}C{O_3}\; + {\text{ }}2{\text{ }}NaCl\]
Lithium carbonate is the most common lithium salt, and it is widely used in bipolarity treatment. Lithium is the ion that is most similar to sodium in size and charge, so it competes with sodium in transmembrane exchange in nerve cells, affecting neurotransmitter release. Lithium carbonate can also be used to increase the number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood.

Note:
Lithium carbonate is an important chemical in industry. Its primary application is as a precursor for lithium-ion battery compounds. Lithium carbonate glasses are suitable for use in ovenware. In both low-fire and high-fire ceramic glazes, lithium carbonate is a common ingredient. With silica and other materials, it forms low-melting fluxes.