Lithium chloride solutions are used in large dehumidification systems in the air-conditioning industry. This use depends on the low equilibrium pressure of water vapor above solutions of lithium chloride. After the solutions have absorbed water, they are regenerated by heating.
Lithium chloride is used in a number of salt mixtures. Such salt mixtures have low melting points allowing the material to be used in brazing fluxes and brazing baths. The molten lithium chloride-potassium chloride eutectic mixture can be used as an electrolyte. The mixture is electrolyzed for the production of lithium metal and is used as an electrolyte in voltaic cells.
manufacture of mineral waters; in pyrotechnics; soldering aluminum; in refrigerating machines.
Lithium chloride is a White cubic crystals; granules or powder; hygroscopic; sharp salt-like taste; melts at 605°C; vaporizes around 1360°C, It has an unusually high water solubility when compared to the other alkali metal chlorides; readily dissolves in water (64g/100mL at 0°C); also highly soluble in alcohol and pyridine; moderately soluble in acetone (4.1 g/100mL at 25°C).
The following hydrates are known: LiCl·H2O, LiCl-3H20 and LiCl- 5H2O. The higher hydrates are stable at progressively lower temperatures. Lithium chloride is deliquescent under normal atmospheric conditions.
Lithium chloride is soluble to a significant extent in many polar organic liquids. It is generally most soluble in alcohols in which the solubility decreases as the size of the organic radical increases.