15 Facts On HCl +Li2O: What, How To Balance, And FAQ

Li2O is known as Lithium oxide, an alkali metal oxide. It reacts readily with strong acids like HCl. Let us explore more facts about the reaction between Hydrochloric acid and Lithium oxide.

Hydrochloric acid is a covalent compound. Due to its strong acidic nature, it completely dissociates in an aqueous solution. Li2O is an ionic compound. The ionic bond is formed between the metal atom Li with the non-metal O-atom. In Li2O the central metal i.e. Li-atom exists in a +2 oxidation state.

The presence of oxide ion i.e. O2- ion in Li2O made it strongly basic in nature and enhance a high tendency to react with H+ions. In this article, we will look into the type of chemical reaction that takes place between HCl and Li2O. Will discuss on few more properties like intermolecular force, enthalpy change, net ionic equation, etc.

What Is The Product Of HCl and Li2O  

A neutral salt of Lithium chloride and water molecules forms when Lithium oxide reacts with Hydrogen chloride. The chemical equation is given below.

.HCl(l) + Li2O(s) = LiCl (aq) + H2O (l)

What Type Of Reaction Is HCl + Li2O

The type of reaction is neutralization reaction when HCl reacts with Li2O. As the reaction occurs between a strong acid and a strong base it is also known as an acid-base reaction.

How To Balance HCl + Li2O

The chemical equation of the reaction between HCl+Li2O can be balanced with the following steps. 

Step 1 Find the number of atoms present in the reactant and product.

  • The reactant contains 1H, 1 Cl, 2 Li and 1O-atoms.
  • The product contains 2 H,1 Cl. 1 Li, and 1 O-atoms.

Step 2 Multiply the significant number to balance the coefficient of the atoms present in reactants and products.

  • To balance the number of H-atoms in the reactant and product  2 moles of HCl should react with Lithium oxide. Thus multiply 2×Hcl in the reactant.
  • Now, the number of Cl-atom in reactant and products are unequal. To balance the number of Cl atoms 2 moles of LiCl must form during the reaction. Thus, multiply 2 with LiCl i.e. 2×LiCl in the product.
  • The number of Li atoms can be balanced by multiplying 2 with Li in the reactant.

Step 3 The balanced chemical equation is:

  • 2HCl + Li2O = 2LiCl+ H2O

HCl + Li2O Titration

The volume of unknown concentration of Li2O can be found by titration of the standardized solution of HCl with Li2O.

Apparatus And Chemicals Required

  • Burette
  • Pipette
  • Conical Flask
  • Funnel
  • Burette stand
  • Filter paperer
  • Volume metric flask
  • Watch glass
  • Distilled water
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Lithium Oxide

Indicator

A Phenolphthalein indicator is used while titration Li2O with strong acids like HCl.

Procedure

  • Standardized solution of HCl to be pipette out in a conical flask.
  • Fill the burette with the unknown strength of Li2O.
  • The titration process is to be started by adding Li2O solution in a dropwise manner from the burette to the conical flask containing HCl.
  • Add two drops of indicator to the conical flask and the process of adding Li2O from the burette to be continued until the colour of the solution changes to light pink.
  • By using volumetric analysis i.e. M1V1= M2V2 the concentration of Li2O can be calculated.

HCl + Li2O Net Ionic Equation

HCl+ Li2O has the following net ionic equation: 2H+(aq)+ Li2O=2Li+(aq)+ H2O (l)

  • Write the balanced chemical equation indicating the physical states of the reactant and products.

2HCl (l) + Li2O (s)  =  2 LiCl(aq) + H2O (g)

  • Write the aqueous substances in ionic form.  

2H+(aq)+ 2Cl (aq) + Li2O (s) =  2Li+(aq) + 2Cl (aq) + H2O (l)

  •  To write the net ionic equation cancel all the spectator ions.

2H+(aq)+ Li2O=2Li+(aq)+ H2O (l)

HCl + Li2O Conjugate Pairs

HCl+ Li2O has the following conjugate pairs.

  • The conjugate pair of the strong acid, Hydrochloric acid is the Chloride ion i.e. Cl ion.
  • The conjugate pair of the the basic Li2O is Lithium hydroxide i.e.  LiOH.

HCl And Li2O Intermolecular Forces

  • The force of attraction that exists in the HCl molecule is dipole-dipole interaction due to the electronegativity difference between the H-Cl bond and the London dispersion force.
  •  In Li2O due to metal-non-metal interaction, the intermolecular force is ionic.  

HCl + Li2O Reaction Enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy for the reaction of HCl with Li2O is -625.97 kJ/mole. It can be calculated by subtracting the enthalpy of products from the enthalpy of reactants.

MoleculesEnthalpy
HCl92.3 kJ/mole
Li2O-595.8 kJ/mole
LiCl408.27 kJ/mole
H2O-285.8 kJ/mole

Is HCl + Li2O A Buffer Solution

The chemical reaction between HCl+Li2O is not an example of a buffer solution,  because Li2O is not a salt of the conjugate base of HCl and the acid used here is a strong acid.

Is HCl + Li2O A Complete Reaction

The reaction of HCl with Li2O is a complete reaction as the product formed during the reaction is a highly stable neutral salt.

Is HCl + Li2O An Exothermic & Endothermic Reaction

The reaction of HCl with Li2O is an exothermic reaction because the formation of the ionic compound during the reaction i.e. LiCl involves the release of heat energy.

Is HCl + Li2O A Redox Reaction

The reaction of HCl with Li2O is not a redox reaction as oxidation or increase of oxidation number and reduction or decrease in oxidation number do not take place simultaneously. Here oxidation of the state of H and Li remains the same in both the reactant and product i.e. +1.  

Is HCl + Li2O A Precipitation Reaction

The reaction of HCl with Li2O is not a precipitation reaction as the product formed during the reaction is a soluble neutral salt.

Is HCl + Li2O Reversible or Irreversible Reaction

The reaction between HCl and Li2O  is an irreversible reaction because under the same conditions the products will not undergo a backward reaction to form the reactant.

Is HCl + Li2O Displacement Reaction

The reaction between HCl and Li2O is not a displacement reaction it is a double displacement reaction. During the chemical change, the Cl-atom of HCl displaces from HCl to LiCl and O-atom displaces from Li2O to H2O.

Conclusion

Li2O is a basic metallic oxide that reacts readily with strong acids like HCl.  Li2O due to better thermal conductivity is used in making ceramic. The neutral salt LiCl formed during this reaction mainly use for the preparation of Li-metal by electrolysis.