The methods of lithium, also called aluminum hydride lithium (LiAlH4), usually noted LAH, is a powerful generator of hydrides so a strong reducer used in organic chemistry. It is more powerful than sodium borohydride, another reduction reagent, as the Al - H bond is weaker than the B - H bond. It transforms esters, carboxylic acids and alcohols ketones and nitrated amines compounds. LAH violently reacts with water and the pure product is pyrophoric. The commercial product is stored in mineral oil to protect it from the air. Pure and crystallized in diethyl ether, is a white solid. Commercial samples are always grey due to contamination with traces of aluminium metal. Commercial samples that have absorbed enough moisture to form a mixture of hydroxide lithium and aluminum hydroxide.
Many searches are also carried out in recent years to use it for storage of hydrogen for fuel cells.
Physical properties:
T ° fusion 159 ° C (decomposes) dec. > 125 ° C
T ° boiling 184 ° C
solubility see table
density 0, 917g•cm-3 (solid) at 20 ° C
