Lithium oxalate

Names
Other names Dilithium oxalate, di-Lithium oxalate,[1] oxalic acid dilithium salt[2]
Identifiers
CAS Number	553-91-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	61669
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.232
EC Number	209-054-1
PubChem CID	68383
UNII	K737OT0E73 N
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4060288
InChI InChI=1S/C2H2O4-C.2Li/c3-1(4)2(5)6;;/h(H,3,4)(H,5,6);;/q;2*+1/p-2 Key: YNQRWVCLAIUHHI-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES [Li+].[Li+].[O-]C(=O)C([O-])=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C 2Li 2O 4
Molar mass	102.0 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless crystalline solid
Density	2.12 g/cm3
Solubility in water	6.6g/100g water
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H302, H312
Precautionary statements	P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P312, P322, P330, P363, P501
Related compounds
Related compounds	Calcium oxalate Sodium oxalate Magnesium oxalate Strontium oxalate Barium oxalate Potassium oxalate Beryllium oxalate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Lithium oxalate is an inorganic compound, a salt of lithium metal and oxalic acid with the chemical formula C
₂Li
₂O
₄.^[3][4] Lithium oxalate is soluble in water and converts to the oxide when heated.^[5]

Synthesis

One of the methods of synthesis is the reaction of direct neutralization of oxalic acid with lithium hydroxide:

${\displaystyle {\mathsf {2LiOH+H_{2}C_{2}O_{4}\ \xrightarrow {\ } Li_{2}C_{2}O_{4}+2H_{2}O}}}$

Properties

The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, cell parameters a = 3.400, b = 5.156, c = 9.055 Å, β = 95.60°, Z = 4.^[3]

Lithium oxalate decomposes when heated:

${\displaystyle {\mathsf {Li_{2}C_{2}O_{4}\ {\xrightarrow {410-500^{o}C}}\ Li_{2}CO_{3}+CO}}}$

Applications

In pyrotechnics, the compound is used to color the flame red.^[6]

References