CheMistry Lab Experiment (Explosive reaction)

Pure Alcohol and Lithium Aluminium Hydride    

The solid is dangerously reactive toward water, releasing gaseous hydrogen (H₂).

Note:- Both Aluminium Hydride and Borohydride reacts with protic solvents such as water and ethanol.  Lithium Aluminium reacts violently with water to form hydrogen gas, which may burn explosively because of the heat generated in the reaction. Therefore Lithium Aluminium Hydride can only be used in aprotic solvents such as diethyl ether.

Lithium Aluminium Hydride :- 

Lithium Aluminium hydride, commonly known as LAH, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula LiAlH4.

      It was discovered by Finholt, Bond and Schlesinger in 1947. The compound is used as a reducing agent in Organic synthesis. Actually, it is used especially for the reduction of esters, carboxylic acids, and amides.

Preparation of LiAlH4:- 

Lithium Aluminium Hydride is obtained by the reaction of lithium Hydride and  Aluminium Chloride in presence of dry ether. By this reaction 97% of LiAlH4 is obtained.

      Chemical properties:--- it reacts violently with water or ethanol to release hydrogen gas (H2).

Alcohol in living being: Toxicity:-

     Fuel grade ethanol may contain dangerous impurities and should never be consumed. Ethanol is the alcohol in alcohol beverages, many times it just called "alcohol". However, it is toxic to drink. And methanol sometimes called “wood alcohol”, it is also highly toxic.