Lithium iodide, or LiI, is a compound of

lithium Lithium (from el, λίθος, lithos, lit=stone) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid ...

and

iodine Iodine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , ...

. When exposed to air, it becomes yellow in color, due to the

oxidation Redox (reduction–oxidation, , ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a ...

of iodide to iodine. It crystallizes in the NaCl motif. It can participate in various hydrates.Wietelmann, Ulrich and Bauer, Richard J. (2005) "Lithium and Lithium Compounds" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', Wiley-VCH: Weinheim. .

Applications

Lithium iodide is used as a solid-state electrolyte for high-temperature batteries. It is also the standard electrolyte in artificial pacemakers due to the long cycle life it enables. The solid is used as a phosphor for

neutron The neutron is a subatomic particle, symbol or , which has a neutral (not positive or negative) charge, and a mass slightly greater than that of a proton. Protons and neutrons constitute the nuclei of atoms. Since protons and neutrons behav ...

detection. It is also used, in a complex with

Iodine Iodine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , ...

, in the electrolyte of dye-sensitized solar cells. In organic synthesis, LiI is useful for cleaving C-O bonds. For example, it can be used to convert methyl esters to

carboxylic acid In organic chemistry, a carboxylic acid is an organic acid that contains a carboxyl group () attached to an R-group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is or , with R referring to the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or other group. Carboxyl ...

s: :RCO₂CH₃ + LiI → RCO₂Li + CH₃I Similar reactions apply to epoxides and aziridines. Lithium iodide was used as a radiocontrast agent for

CT scan A computed tomography scan (CT scan; formerly called computed axial tomography scan or CAT scan) is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers ...

s. Its use was discontinued due to renal toxicity. Inorganic iodine solutions suffered from

hyperosmolarity Osmotic concentration, formerly known as osmolarity, is the measure of solute concentration, defined as the number of osmoles (Osm) of solute per litre (L) of solution (osmol/L or Osm/L). The osmolarity of a solution is usually expressed as Osm/L ...

and high viscosities. Current

iodinated contrast Iodinated contrast is a form of intravenous radiocontrast agent containing iodine, which enhances the visibility of vascular structures and organs during radiographic procedures. Some pathologies, such as cancer, have particularly improved visib ...

agents are

organoiodine compound Organoiodine compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more carbon–iodine bonds. They occur widely in organic chemistry, but are relatively rare in nature. The thyroxine hormones are organoiodine compounds that are required for he ...

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Lithium compounds Iodides Alkali metal iodides Deliquescent substances Metal halides Rock salt crystal structure

Applications

See also

References

External links