Lithium bromide

Overview

Lithium bromide, or LiBr, is a chemical compound of lithium and bromine. Its extreme hygroscopic character makes LiBr useful as a desiccant in certain air conditioning systems.^[1]

Production and properties

LiBr is prepared by treatment of lithium carbonate with hydrobromic acid. The salt forms several crystalline hydrates, unlike the other alkali metal bromides.^[2] The anhydrous salt forms cubic crystals similar to salt

Uses

Lithium bromide is used in air-conditioning systems as desiccant. Otherwise the salt is useful as a reagent in organic synthesis. For example it reversibly forms adducts with some pharmaceuticals.^[1]

Medical applications

Lithium bromide was used as a sedative beginning in the early 1900s, but it fell into disfavor in the 1940s when some heart patients died after using it as a salt substitute.^[3] Like lithium carbonate and lithium chloride it was used as treatment for Bipolar disorder.

Hazards

Lithium salts are psychoactive and somewhat corrosive. Dosages for lithium carbonate are ca. 200 mg/day.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Ulrich Wietelmann, Richard J. Bauer “Lithium and Lithium Compounds” in Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2005, Wiley-VCH: Weinheim.
↑ Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. “Inorganic Chemistry” Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
↑ Bipolar disorder

External links

“A PDF file from GFS Chemicals, a supplier of lithium bromide” (PDF). Retrieved 2005-09-15.

ar:بروميد ليثيوم bs:Litijum bromid ca:Bromur de liti de:Lithiumbromid it:Bromuro di litio Template:WH Template:WS

[Ullmann-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Ulrich Wietelmann, Richard J. Bauer “Lithium and Lithium Compounds” in Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2005, Wiley-VCH: Weinheim.

[2] Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. “Inorganic Chemistry” Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.

[3] Bipolar disorder

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