[Histonet] re: Saturated lithium carbonate

[John Kiernan]

The solubility of lithium carbonate in water is 1.3g per 100 ml, according to Lange's Handbook of Chemistry. Add any quantity greater than this to a bottle containing 100 ml of water, shake and wait for the undissolved material to settle on the bottom. As long as some undissolved lithium carbonate is present, the solution is saturated. When I make this solution, I put in a large excess of lithium
carbonate, and top up with water when the bottle is getting low. 

As far as I know, the only reason for using lithium carbonate rather than the cheaper sodium carbonate is that Li2CO3 is less soluble than Na2CO3 (solubility = 7.1g per 100 ml.). It's always easy to work with saturated solutions because weighing is not needed. Saturated Li2CO3 is  0.18M whereas saturated Na2CO3 is 0.67M and therefore much more strongly alkaline. A 1.86% solution of anhydrous sodium carbonate is 0.18M and should behave the same as a saturated lithium carbonate solution for differentiating anionic dyes etc.

John Kiernan
Anatomy, UWO
London, Canada
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----- Original Message -----
From: Arshia Mian <amian <@t> thermage.com>
Date: Monday, July 23, 2007 17:14
Subject: [Histonet] re: Saturated lithium carbonate
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu

> Hello,
> 
> Has anyone had problems getting lithium carbonate to dissolve in 
> H2O to
> make a saturated aqueous soln?
> 
>  
> 
> I have tried 2 different concentrations of lithium carbonate to 
> go into
> solution.
> 
> 1. 1.54g in 100ml H2O
> 
> 2. 1g in 100ml H2O
> 
>  
> 
> I am trying to make this solution for the Herovici stain, but with
> little success.
> 
> I have called the manufacturer of the lithium carbonate and they said
> that the solution is soluble at 20degC in H2O at a conc. of 1.3g in
> 100ml H2O.
> 
>  
> 
> Any help would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Arshia
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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