Lithium chloride

Lithium chloride (LiCl) is an ionic compound made of lithium cations and chloride anions. It is highly soluble in water and strongly hygroscopic.

Desiccant: A material used to remove moisture from gases or enclosed spaces. Anhydrous LiCl absorbs water vapor and can serve as a desiccant.
Ionic bonding: Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions formed by electron transfer. This attraction holds lithium and chloride ions together in solid LiCl.
Lithium: The chemical element with atomic number 3, an alkali metal that forms Li⁺ ions. Lithium supplies the positive ion in LiCl.
Sodium chloride: An ionic compound with formula NaCl, composed of sodium cations and chloride anions. NaCl shares LiCl’s anion and crystal type but differs in cation and physical properties.
Air conditioning: The control of indoor temperature, humidity, and air quality. Concentrated LiCl solutions can remove moisture from air in desiccant cooling systems.
Rock-salt structure: A cubic crystal structure in which two ion types form interpenetrating face-centered cubic lattices. Solid LiCl adopts this structure, with each ion surrounded by six counterions.
Chloride: The negatively charged ion Cl⁻, formed when a chlorine atom gains an electron. Chloride supplies the negative ion in LiCl.
Potassium chloride: An ionic compound with formula KCl, composed of potassium cations and chloride anions. KCl provides a comparison among alkali-metal chlorides with different cation sizes.
Lithium metal: A soft, highly reactive alkali metal used in batteries and chemical synthesis. Electrolysis of molten LiCl is one route to producing lithium metal.
Hygroscopy: The tendency of a substance to absorb moisture from its surroundings. LiCl readily takes up atmospheric water and may dissolve in the absorbed moisture.

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