Lithium hydride

Metals -> Metal Hydrides

Flammable agents - 2nd degree

0.76 to 0.77 (EPA, 1998)

0.78 g/cu cm

0.8 g/cm³

0.78

0.78 @25 °C

0.78

Gray cubic crystals or powder, hygroscopic

White translucent, crystalline mass or powder; commercial product is light bluish-gray due to minute amount of colloidally dispersed lithium

Cubic crystals, darkens rapidly on exposure to light

Reacts with water (NIOSH, 2024)

Insoluble in benzene and toluene; soluble in ether

Solubility in water: reaction

Reacts

Decomposes (NIOSH, 2024)

decomposes

Decomposes

Thermally unstable. Decomp at 1009 °F (400 °C).

Rapidly decomposes in water to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen; 1 g in water liberates approximately 2.8 L of hydrogen at standard temperature and pressure.

850 °C

1256 °F (EPA, 1998)

688.7 °C

680 °C

1256 °F

692 °C

1256 °F

0 mmHg at 68 °F (EPA, 1998)

Approximately 0 mm Hg

Vapor pressure at 20 °C: negligible

0 mmHg (approx)

0 mmHg (approx)

Lithium hydride appears as a white or translucent crystalline mass or powder. The commercial product is light bluish-gray lumps due to the presence of minute amounts of colloidally dispersed lithium.

Odorless, off-white to gray, translucent, crystalline mass or white powder; [NIOSH] Potent hygroscopic properties; [ACGIH]

ODOURLESS WHITE-TO-GREYISH HYGROSCOPIC SOLID IN VARIOUS FORMS. TURNS DARK ON EXPOSURE TO LIGHT.

Odorless, off-white to gray, translucent, crystalline mass or white powder.

Odorless, off-white to gray, translucent, crystalline mass or white powder.

Danger

H260 (99.5%): In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously [Danger Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases]

P223, P231+P232, P260, P264, P264+P265, P270, P280, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P335+P334, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P330, P363, P370+P378, P402+P404, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 182 reports by companies from 6 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Danger

H228: Flammable solid [Danger Flammable solids]

Chemical: Lithium hydride (LiH)

Status: Active Update: 11-11-2013 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/10422

Lithium hydride: HSNO Approval: HSR001280 Approved with controls

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

In a fire, irritating alkali fumes may form. Lithium hydride can form airborne dust clouds which may explode on contact with flame, heat, or oxidizing materials. Additionally, spontaneous ignition occurs when nitrous oxide and lithium hydride are mixed. Lithium hydride also forms explosive mixtures with liquid oxygen. Contact with heat, moisture or acid causes exothermic reaction and evolution of hydrogen as well as lithium hydroxide. Incompatible with air and moisture, nitrous oxide, strong oxidizers, and liquid oxygen. Lithium hydride may ignite spontaneously in air and should be maintained and handled out of contact with air and moisture. Any contact with nitrous oxide; airborne powders may ignite upon reaching moisture. (EPA, 1998)

· Produce flammable gases on contact with water.

Combustible. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire. Many reactions may cause fire or explosion. See Chemical dangers Finely dispersed particles form explosive mixtures in air.

Lithium hydride is a flammable solid and is dangerous when wet.

... Flammable solid.

This material is relatively toxic to people. It is more likely to cause irritation of skin and mucous membrane tissues rather than death. Its effects are primarily acute. A massive exposure to the eyes and by inhalation may be lethal. Those experiencing any ailment of the upper respiratory tract (e.g., bronchitis or pneumonia) are at a greater risk. (EPA, 1998)

· Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.

Inhalation of aerosol can induce pulmonary edema. [ICSC] Burns to the skin appear worse than those caused by an equivalent amount of sodium hydroxide. [CHRIS] The TLV Basis is irritation (eye and respiratory tract); A worker inhaled lithium hydride fuel for 3 to 4 minutes and developed noncardiac pulmonary edema with subsequent full recovery; [ACGIH] See Lithium deuteride.

1414 138

1414 138

2805 138(fused, solid)

Wear protective goggles or face shield, rubberized gloves, flame-proof outer clothing, respirator, and high boots or shoes. Large fires: withdraw from area and let fire burn, as lithium hydride may continue to re-ignite. A fire, once started, cannot be extinguished by ordinary methods.

NO hydrous agents, foam, carbon dioxide. Use inert gas, dry sand, special powder.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. No mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. Refer immediately for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Put clothes in sealable container. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer immediately for medical attention .

Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible). Refer immediately for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately for medical attention.

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

Warning: Lithium hydride is an alkaline-corrosive agent. Contact with eyes may result in severe damage to the cornea, conjunctiva, and blood vessels. Caution is advised.

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

May decompose when hot to form flammable hydrogen gas. Reacts violently with water to produce hydrogen, which may explode in air.

May ignite spontaneously in air and may reignite after fire is extinguished. Reacts with water to form hydrogen and lithium hydroxide.

Corrosive ... Water reactive ... Evolves hydrogen and ignites on contact with water.

The principal physical property of lithium hydrides important to their safe handling is the large amount of hydrogen contained in a relatively small volume. Two g of lithium hydride treated with water will liberate 200 cu ft of hydrogen. ... In the handling of lithium hydrides, water in any form must be eliminated. ... Chief hazards in handling are dust production, static electricity, and fire.

Use approved Class D extinguishers or smother with dry sand, dry clay, or dry ground limestone. Do not use carbon dioxide or halogenated extinguishing agents. Do NOT use water. Violent reaction may result.

A fire once started cannot be extinguished by ordinary methods; smothering by dolomite powder is recommended.

Fires should be extinguished with dry chemicals; "Lith-X," the trademark for a graphite-base dry chemical extinguishing agent, is available for such fires.

Dry nitrogen, graphite, or lithium chloride. Never use water, foam, halogenated hydrocarbons, soda acid, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide.

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not use water. Do not use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Use graphite, soda ash or powdered sodium chloride. /Lithium hydride; lithium hydride in fused solid form/

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Must be stored in a dry location. Immediately remove and properly dispose of any spilled material.

Protect containers against physical damage. Store in a well-ventilated, cool and dry place. isolated from residential quarters. Keep water from entering in storage area.

Wearing butyl rubber gloves, fireproof clothing, face shield and goggles, cover spill with sand. Transfer mixture into a dry plastic bag filled in advance with an inert gas. Carry outdoors for incineration. After burning (if not in a proper incinerator), sprinkle water on the residue for complete destruction. Alternatively, in the fume hood, add butanol slowly to the solid mixture until the reaction ceases. Then carefully add water until all the hydride is destroyed. Let stand until solid settles.

Keep water away from release. Shovel into suitable dry container.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Serious local effects by all routes of exposure.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Lithium hydride is a soft silver -white metal which reacts with water and is soluble in liquid ammonia.It is used in the manufacture of catalysts for polyolefin plastics; in fuels for aircraft, missiles. It is used in metallurgy, as degasifier, deoxidizer, desulfurizer; as grain refiner in non-ferrous metals. Used as a chemical intermediate for butyllithium polymerization catalyst; in alloys with aluminum or magnesium for aerospace uses. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: Lithium hydride causes severe eye and skin burns. Industrial exposures to lithium may occur during extraction of lithium from its ores, preparation of various lithium compounds, welding, brazing, enameling, and from the use of lithium hydrides. ANIMAL STUDIES: No animal studies could be located.

Cough. Sore throat. Burning sensation. Nausea. Vomiting. Shortness of breath.

Redness. Pain. Blisters. Skin burns.

Redness. Pain. Blurred vision. Severe deep burns.

Sore throat. Nausea. Abdominal pain. Burning sensation. Vomiting. Diarrhoea. Shock or collapse.

irritation eyes, skin; eye, skin burns; mouth, esophagus burns (if ingested); nausea; muscle twitches; mental confusion; blurred vision

Employees should be screened for history of /the following/ medical conditions which might place the employee at increased risk from lithium hydride exposure: chronic respiratory disease ... skin disease ... eye disease. ... Any employee developing any of /these/ conditions should be referred for further medical examination.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ ... Great chemical reactivity, particularly with moisture, producing marked irritancy and corrosiveness to biologic tissues. Thus its potential health hazard is acute in nature.[Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 1732]

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Lithium hydride is a severe irritant of the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin due to the formation of lithium hydroxide on moist surfaces and its caustic action.[Zenz, C., O.B. Dickerson, E.P. Horvath. Occupational Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO., 1994, p. 605]

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Lithium hydride causes sneezing, coughing, and severe irritation of the nose and throat. Lithium hydride can cause severe eye and skin burns. If swallowed, the mouth, trachea, and esophagus may be burned. Inadvertent ingestion of lithium hydride may cause nausea, muscle twitches, mental confusion, blurring of vision, coma, and death.[Mackison, F. W., R. S. Stricoff, and L. J. Partridge, Jr. (eds.). NIOSH/OSHA - Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards. DHHS(NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123 (3 VOLS). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Jan. 1981.]

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ In atmospheres containing 0.5 mg/cu m, the skin becomes inflamed and lacrimation occurs.[American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc. Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices. 6th ed. Volumes I, II, III. Cincinnati, OH: ACGIH, 1991., p. 862]

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for LITHIUM HYDRIDE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits were exposed at 5 to 55 mg/cu m of the dust for from 4 to 7 hours or at 5 mg/cu m for a total of 20 hours over a period of 1 week. At these conc, lithium hydride proved to be an intensely irritating and corrosive material. Concentrations in excess of 10 mg/cu m eroded the body fur and skin on the legs of the animals and produced severe inflammation and ulceration of the eyes on occasion, as well as destruction of the external nasal septum. All concentrations studied, however, proved so irritating as to cause repeated and persistent coughing and sneezing in the animals that resulted in emphysematous changes in the lungs. The trachea showed superficial sloughing of the mucosal epithelium. No delayed effects or sequelae were observed during a postexposure period of up to 5 months. ... Toxic effects demonstrated in these experiments were due to the alkalinity of the hydrolysis product of lithium hydride and in no way characteristic of the lithium ion per se.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ ... Cause irritation and inflammation in the eyes in rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs at concentration which were very irritating to the respiratory tract.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ In a study on rats, guinea pigs and rabbits no histopathology attributable to lithium hydride was found in the lung, liver, kidney, trachea or lymph nodes 2-5 months after exposure to about 5 mg Li/cu m for 5 days (average exposure 4 hours/day).

In persons with impaired pulmonary function, especially those with obstructive airway diseases, the breathing of lithium hydride might cause exacerbation of symptoms due to its irritant properties. ... Persons with pre-existing skin disorders may be more susceptible to the effects of this agent. ... Persons with pre-existing eye conditions may be at increased risk from exposure.

Industrial exposures to lithium may occur during extraction of lithium from its ores, preparation of various lithium compounds, welding, brazing, enameling, and from the use of lithium hydrides. /Lithium/

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1974) has statistically estimated that 11 workers are potentially exposed to lithium hydride in the US(1).

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during treatment ... Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... /Lithium and related compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag-valve-mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Consider vasopressors if patient is hypotensive with a normal fluid volume. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... /Lithium and related compounds/

Releases of CERCLA hazardous substances are subject to the release reporting requirement of CERCLA section 103, codified at 40 CFR part 302, in addition to the requirements of 40 CFR part 355. Lithium hydride is an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) subject to reporting requirements when stored in amounts in excess of its threshold planning quantity (TPQ) of 100 lbs.

Used as an intermediate for chemical synthesis, a desiccating agent, and to make ceramics and special glass; Used as a coolant and shielding material in nuclear energy production; [ACGIH]

Reducing agent, condensing agent with ketones and acetic esters; desiccant; in hydrogen generators.

Prep of lithium amide & double hydrides; nuclear shielding material; reducing agent; desiccant; source of hydrogen; condensing agent in organic synthesis

In manufacture of electronic tubes, in ceramics, and in chem synthesis

Most lithium hydride, which is produced in tonnage quantities, is used as a raw material in the production of lithium aluminum hydride and lithium amide.

For more Uses (Complete) data for LITHIUM HYDRIDE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Lithium hydride is manufactured on a large scale by combination of the elements at 700-900 °C.

Prepared by the direct combination of hydrogen and lithium.

Reaction of molten lithium with hydrogen

Grade: 93-95%, Based on hydrogen evolution.

Powder, -30 mesh; 95%

Product has a purity of 98-99% and is supplied in the form of lumps or powder

Lithium hydride (LiH): ACTIVE

Commercial product is light bluish-gray due to minute amt of colloidally dispersed lithium.

Industrial product has a bulk density of approx 0.29 kg/L