Lithium aluminium hydride facts for kids
Lithium aluminium hydride is an inorganic compound. Its chemical formula is LiAlH4. It is commonly abbreviated as LAH. It is a grey solid. It was discovered by Finholt, Bond and Schlesinger in 1947.
Contents
Properties
Lithium aluminium hydride is a colorless solid, but commercial samples are usually gray because of contamination. It can be purified by recrystallization from diethyl ether. It reacts violently with water. Some commercial samples contain mineral oil to stop reactions with moisture in the atmosphere.
Uses
Lithium aluminium hydride is used in organic chemistry as a reducing agent. Lithium aluminium hydride is most commonly used for the reduction of esters and carboxylic acids to primary alcohols.
Images for kids
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SEM image of LAH powder
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The crystal structure of LAH; Li atoms are purple and AlH4 tetrahedra are tan.
See also
In Spanish: Hidruro de litio y aluminio para niños
