Question

A student was trying to obtain lithium by electrolysis of aqueous lithium chloride solution. he was unsuccessful. a) explain why he was unsuccessful. b) describe what he would have to do in order to obtain the metal by electrolysis.
Thank you....i really don't understand this :(

Answer 1

@theEric @thomaster @.Sam. you're a few smart persons i know, can you help? this is REALLY important. Thanks

Answer 2

Hmm.... I'm not the best at this, but I know a little.
Lithium Chloride is \(\rm{LiCl}\) based on the periodic table, so it's \(\rm{Li^++Cl^-}\)....

Now I need to remember electrolysis, which I think is pretty cool...

Answer 3

Would it have anything to do with the fact that it's in water?

Answer 4

\(\rm{Li^++Cl^-+H_2O\rightarrow}\sf\ something\ else\ becomes\ solid\ at\ the\ electrode?\)

Answer 5

but why was the student unsuccessful?

Answer 6

I hope this refreshes your memory, because I really don't know this stuff too well.

Answer 7

That is a tricky question, to me. There aren't many details. But maybe it has to do with the fact that it's aqueous. Part (b) asks how to get lithium with electrolysis, so we know that much is possible...

Answer 8

ok well from what i understand, the \[H _{2}O\] has \[H ^{+} and OH ^{-}\] ions. And i also know that the anion will be attracted to the anode (the positive electrode) and the cation will be attracted to the cathode(positive electrode) Is this correct?

Answer 9

my bad the last one is negative electrode.

Answer 10

So \(\rm{OH^−}\) is the anion, and it is attracted to the anode.
\(\rm{H^+}\) is the cation, and it is attracted to the cathode.

\(\rm{Li^+}\) would go to the cathode with \(\rm{H^+}\). Would that cause a problem?

Answer 11

I'm thinking the lithium and hydrogen wouldn't react... I think the lithium would collect and most of the hydrogen would turn into \(\rm{H_2}\)...

But I've been out of chemistry for a while.

Answer 12

"Lithium chloride is mainly used for the production of lithium metal by electrolysis of a LiCl/KCl melt at 450 °C."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiCl

Answer 13

my teacher also told me some elements are inert just like the carbon electrodes, hmm so the H+ ions from the water are discharged at the cathode and hydrogen gas is produced

Answer 14

but thats all i know :(

Answer 15

I wonder if it would be because there wouldn't be a reaction on the other end? Sorry I'm not good with this stuff.

Answer 16

its ok, thanks for your help though!

Answer 17

Good luck! Hopefully someone knowledgeable in chemistry will come along.

Answer 18

watch this video...if it doesn't help i'll explain....gotta go pee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76MOwvp7YLo

Answer 19

Thanks, it really helped!