THE SYSTEM LITHIUM NITRATE–ETHANOL–WATER AND ITS COMPONENT BINARY SYSTEMS

Abstract

The system lithium nitrate–water has been investigated by thermal analysis and by X-ray powder diffraction studies. No trace of the hemihydrate reported by Donnan and Burt was found. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern of LiNO3.3H2O has been obtained.The equilibrium diagram of the system ethanol–water shows an inflection at –30 °C, corresponding to 40 weight per cent ethanol. This is almost certainly a true peritectic point. The formula of the hydrate formed (if there is one) is uncertain but it may be C2H5OH.5H2O.The system lithium nitrate–ethanol could only be studied in dilute solution (of lithium nitrate) and at temperatures near room temperature, because of high viscosity and extreme supercooling. No evidence for the existence of a solid alcoholate has been obtained.The system lithium nitrate–ethanol–water has been investigated in the form of a series of pseudobinary systems containing water and alcohol in fixed ratios. No solid alcoholate of lithium nitrate has been found in solutions containing less than 50 weight per cent ethanol. The investigation could not be pushed beyond this alcohol content because of high viscosity and supercooling.