Is lithium soluble in methanol?

13 Jan.,2025

 

Lithium methoxide - Wikipedia

Lithium methoxide Names IUPAC name Lithium methoxide Other names Lithium methanolate Identifiers 3D model (JSmol) ChemSpider ECHA InfoCard 100.011.580 PubChem CID CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
  • InChI=1S/CH3O.Li/c1-2;/h1H3;/q-1;+1Key: JILPJDVXYVTZDQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/CH3O.Li/c1-2;/h1H3;/q-1;+1Key: JILPJDVXYVTZDQ-UHFFFAOYAW
  • [Li+].[O-]C
Properties CH3LiO Molar mass 37.975 Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Chemical compound

Lithium methoxide is a compound with formula LiCH3O. It is the lithium salt of methanol. Like other alkali metal alkoxides, lithium methoxide adopts a polymeric structure[1] Its solubility in common polar aprotic solvents like THF is low; however, it is soluble in methanol and is available commercially as a 10% solution.[2]

Link to Boraychem

See also

[edit]
  • Methoxide

Dissolution of Lithium in Methanol

I have not done it with lithium but many times with sodium. Lithium is the less reactive, so it should not give more problems. We use sodium to dry methanol, so it is a common operation in the lab. The reaction is:

$\ce{2Li + 2CH3OH -> 2LiOCH3 + H2}$

Of course, hydrogen is dangerous, especially in the presence of oxygen and still more in this exothermic reaction. So, be careful.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Lithium Methanol Solution.

The solution is stable, but attracts water and carbon dioxide, so it must be stored well closed.

To get dry lithium methoxide, the easiest is just to evaporate the excess of methanol. You put it in a round bottomed flask, attach it to the rotary evaporator, open the vacuum and distill it of. With sodium it works perfectly well. A white solid remains. Again, this solid will attract water and carbon dioxide, so it must be stored properly.

Finally, if the only purpose is to have a methanolic solution of lithium, you can better use lithium chloride which is very soluble in methanol, and much safer (no reaction, no hydrogen, no heating).

For more information, please visit Lithium Methoxide In Methanol.