Lithii Carbonas. Lithium Carbonate, Li2CO3. - (Syn., Lith. Carb., Carbonas Lithicus; Fr. Carbonate (de Lithine) lithique; Ger. Lithium carbonicum, Lithiumcarbonat, Lithiae Carbonas, Kohlensaures Lithion.)

Manufacture: 1, By double decomposition between lithium chloride and ammonium carbonate, filtering, washing with alcohol, drying - 2LiCl + NH4HCO3 = Li2CO3 + NH4C1 + HC1; 2, Fuse together lepidolite 10 parts, barium carbonate 10, barium sulphate 5, potassium sulphate 3. The heavy barium silicate and sulphate subside, while lithium and potassium sulphates come to the surface, the mass is now lixiviated to dissolve the two latter salts, and then by double decomposition with ammonium carbonate the lithium carbonate is obtained. It is a light, white powder, odorless, alkaline taste, permanent, soluble in water (78), boiling water (140), diluted acids with effervescence, almost insoluble in alcohol; fuses at low red heat; at higher temperature loses some carbon dioxide, becoming partially lithium oxide; saturated aqueous solution alkaline; contains 98.5 p. c. of the pure salt. Tests: 1. Imparts crimson color to flame. 2. Mix 1 part with distilled water (20), add few drops of hydrochloric acid, with agitation until dissolved, boil, cool, render alkaline with ammonia water - no turbidity or precipitate (abs. of iron, aluminum). 2. Dissolve in 40 parts of diluted acetic acid - .15 p. c. of insoluble residue. Impurities: Heavy metals, iron, aluminum, other alkalies. Should be kept in well-closed containers. Dose, gr. 5-15 (.3-1 Gm.), in carbonic-acid water.

Properties and Uses. - Diuretic to remove uric acid calculi, gout, gouty diathesis, to dissolve false membrane. Best solvent for uric acid, slight depressant, renders urine alkaline.

Lithii Bromidum. Lithium Bromide, LiBr. - (Syn., Lith. Brom., Bromuretum Lithicum; Fr. Bromure de Lithium; Ger. Bromlithium, Lithium [bromid] bromatum.)

Manufacture: Heat solution of ferrous bromide with lithium carbonate, evaporate, crystallize - FeBr2 + Li2CO3 = 2LiBr + FeCO3, or can dissolve lithium carbonate in hydrobromic acid. It is a white, granular salt, odorless, sharp, slightly bitter taste, very deliquescent, soluble in alcohol, ether, water (.6), boiling water (.4); aqueous solution (1 in 20) neutral, slightly alkaline; fuses at low red heat, at higher temperature slowly volatilizes; contains 85 p. c. of the pure salt. Tests: 1. Imparts crimson color to flame. 2. Aqueous solution (1 in 10) with silver nitrate T. S. - yellowish-white precipitate, insoluble in nitric acid or moderate excess of ammonia water. Impurities: Heavy metals, iron, aluminum, other alkalies, bromate, chloride, iodide, sulphate. Should be kept in air-tight containers. Dose, gr. 10-30 (.6-2 Gm.).

Preparation. - (Unoff.): Elixir, 8.5 p. c, +, dose, 3ij-4 (8-15 Ml. (Cc.)).

Properties and Uses. - This is the most hypnotic of all the bromides - epilepsy, gout, etc.

Lithii Citras. Lithium Citrate, Li3C6H5O7 + 4H2O. - (Syn., Lith. Cit., Lithium Citricum; Fr. Citrate de Lithine; Ger. Citron (en) saures (Lithium) Lithion, Lithium [citrat] citricum.)

Manufacture: Neutralize solution of citric acid with lithium carbonate, evaporate, crystallize - 3Li2CO3 + 2H3C6H5O7 + H2O + boiling in water = 2Li3C6H5O7 + 4H2O + 3CO2. It is a white powder, or in granular form, odorless, cooling, faintly alkaline taste, deliquescent in moist air, loses water of crystallization at 150° C. (302° F.), soluble in water (1.4), slightly in alcohol; aqueous solution (1 in 20) faintly alkaline to litmus but not reddened by 1 drop of phenolphthalein T. S.; chars at red heat, emits inflammable vapors of pungent odor, 46 leaving black residue of lithium carbonate mixed with carbon; contains 98.5 p. c. of the pure salt. Tests: 1. Imparts crimson color to flame. 2. Boil aqueous solution (1 in 20) with equal volume of calcium chloride T. S. - white precipitate. Impurities: Heavy metals, other alkalies. Should be kept in air-tight containers. Dose, gr. 10-30 (.6-2 Gm.).

Preparation. - (Unoff.): Elixir, 8.5 p. c, +, dose, 3ij-4 (8-15 Ml. (Cc.)).

Allied Salts:

1. Lithii Benzoas. Lithium Benzoate, LiC7H5O2, official 1880-1910. - Obtained by adding benzoic acid to a hot solution of lithium carbonate, evaporating, crystallizing - 2HC7H5O2 + Li2CO3 + boiling in water = 2LiC7H5O2 + H2O + CO2. It is a light, white powder, shining crystalline scales, faint benzoin odor, cooling sweetish taste, permanent, soluble in water (3), alcohol (13), fuses when heated, giving lithium carbonate and carbon; contains 98.5 p. c. of the pure salt. Diuretic; gout, calcarious disorders, rheumatism, but no better than citrate or carbonate. Should be kept in well-stoppered bottles. Dose, gr. 5-15 (.3-1 Gm.).

2. Sal Lithii Citratis Effervescens. Effervescent Salt of Lithium Citrate, official 1890-1910. - Obtained by triturating together citric acid 19.5 Gm., lithium citrate 5 Gm., tartaric acid 30 Gm., incorporating sodium bicarbonate 57 Gm., heating in oven at 93-104° C. (199-219° F.), manipulating with wooden spatula until moist, rubbing through No. 6 tinned-iron sieve, drying granules at 54° C. (129° F.). Similar to lithium carbonate, being eliminated by the kidneys as such, with less irritation to the stomach, more pleasant taste, and greater solubility. Should be kept in well-stoppered bottles. Dose, 3j-2 (4-8 Gm.), in water while effervescing, thus being rendered more palatable.

3. Lithii Salicylas. Lithium Salicylate, LiC7H5O3, official 1880-1910. - Obtained by heating salicylic acid (44), lithium carbonate (12, in water (100) until effervescence ceases, filtering, evaporating - Li2CO3 + 2HC7H5O3 = 2LiC7H5O3 + H2O + CO2. It is a white, grayish-white powder, odorless, sweetish taste, deliquescent, soluble in water, alcohol, decomposed by heat, with phenol odor, leaving lithium carbonate and carbon; contains 98.5 p. c. of the pure salt. Antirheumatic; rheumatism, gout; better than sodium salicylate or salicylic acid, the latter being less soluble and more irritating to the stomach. Should be kept in well-stoppered bottles. Dose, gr. 10-30 (.6-2 Gm.), in aromatic syrup; elixir, 8.5 p. c, +.