Lithium

Lithium reacts slowly with O₂ at room temperature, forming Li₂O. If burned, a minor amount of the peroxide Li₂O₂ is produces as well.

4 Li(s) + O₂(g) 2 Li₂O(s) [white]
2 Li(s) + O₂(g) Li₂O₂(s) [white]

Lithium dissolves readily in dilute sulphuric acid, forming Li ions and hydrogen gas, H₂.

2 Li(s) + H₂SO₄(aq) 2 Li⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) + H₂(g)

Lithium reacts with the halogens, forming the corresponding lithium halides.

2 Li(s) + F₂(g) 2 LiF(s)
2 Li(s) + Cl₂(g) 2 LiCl(s) [6]
2 Li(s) + Br₂(g) 2 LiBr(s)
2 Li(s) + I₂(g) 2 LiI(s)

Lithium reacts with hydrogen, forming lithium hydride [6].

2 Li(s) + H₂(g) 2 LiH(s)

Lithium reacts slowly with water, forming lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

2 Li(s) + 2 H₂O(l) 2 LiOH(aq) + H₂(g)

Method 3500-Li C Inductively Coupled Plasma Method [1]. A portion of the sample is digested in a combination of acids. The digest is aspirated into an 8,000 K argon plasma where resulting light emission is quantified for 30 elements simultaneously.

Method limit of detection in water = 0.01 mg/L
Method limit of detection in soil = 2.00 mg/kg