Question #532bc

2 Answers
Jul 12, 2015

Lithium is metal and metals are generally in solid states.

Explanation:

Lithium reacts with water to give Lithium hydroxide along with hydrogen gas. In word equation, it is represented as;

Lithium + Water #-># Lithium Hydroxide + Hydrogen

In Chemical formula;

2Li + #2H_2O-># 2LiOH + #H_2#

We can also write above equation by representing its state as below:

2Li(s) + #2H_2O#(l)#-># 2LiOH(aq) + #H_2#(g)

Thanks

Jul 12, 2015

No, you would use the (s) state symbol.

Explanation:

LIthium is a solid at room temperature, so you would have to use the (s) state symbol for its reaction with water.

Lithium reacts with water in an exothermic reaction to produce lithium hydroxide, #LiOH#, and hydrogen gas, #H_2#, according to the balanced chemical equation

#2Li_((s)) + 2H_2O_((l)) -> 2LiOH_((aq)) + H_(2(g))#

LIthium hydroxide is a soluble salt, which means that it dissociates in aqueous solution to give lithium cations, #Li^(+)#, and hydroxide anions, #OH^(-)#.

These two species exist in aqueous solution, so you would use the state symbol (aq) when writing the ionic equation

#Li_((s)) + H_2O_((l)) -> Li_((aq))^(+) + OH_((aq))^(-) + H_(2(g))#

So, lithium is a solid, but the lithium cation exists in aquesous solution, that's why it requires the state symbol (aq).