Lithia
This is the oxide of lith- powder, almost insoluble in cold and boiling ium; is caustic, alkaline, and sparingly solu- water. It slowly absorbs carbonic acid from ble in water. One of its most remarkable the atmosphere. With the acids it forms properties is its power of corroding platinum. salts, most of which may be made by the In the form of the hydrate it is white and direct solution of the earth, or its hydrate or translucent, does not deliquesce, but absorbs carbonate. It dissolves in hydrochloric acid carbonic acid and becomes opaque. It is to without effervescence. Neither bicarbonate be obtained from various minerals, and is also of potassa nor chloride of barium throws found in some mineral waters; among which is that of the Gettysburg spring. Pure lithia may be obtained by decomposing sulphate of lithia by acetate of baryta, and by expelling the acetic acid from the filtered solution by heat.