13 Facts on H2SO4 + LiOH: What, How To Balance & FAQs

H₂SO₄ and LiOH are strong acids and strong bases, respectively. It readily loses protons and hydroxide. Let us learn how H₂SO₄ and LiOH react.

Sulphuric Acid is a mineral acid composed of hydrogen sulphur and oxygen in 2:1:4. It is referred to as the king of acids because of its multiple direct and indirect uses. In contrast, lithium hydroxide contains lithium, oxygen and hydrogen in 1:1:1. It is used for manufacturing soaps and greases.

In this article, we shall discuss the kind, product, and balancing of the H₂SO₄ + LiOH reaction.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and LiOH?

H₂SO₄ and LiOH react to form Lithium Sulphate (LiSO₄) and Water (H₂O).

H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + 2H₂O

What type of Reaction is H₂SO₄ + LiOH?

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is a neutralisation reaction because an acid combines with a base to yield salt and water.

How to Balance H₂SO₄ + LiOH?

H₂SO₄ + LiOH can be balanced via a hit-and-trial method using the following steps.

• H₂SO₄ + LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + H₂O
• Compare the reactant atoms with the product atoms.

Reactant Atoms	Product Atoms
3 Hydrogen atoms from Sulphuric Acid and Lithium Hydroxide.	2 Hydrogen atoms from Water.
1 Sulphur atom from Sulphuric Acid.	1 Sulphur atom from Lithium Sulphate.
5 Oxygen atoms from Sulphuric Acid and Lithium Hydroxide.	5 Oxygen atoms from Lithium Sulphate and Water.
1 Lithium atom from Lithium Hydroxide.	2 Lithium atoms from Lithium Sulphate.

• First, balance lithium atoms followed by hydrogen atoms.
• To balance the lithium atoms, put stoichiometric coefficient 2 before lithium hydroxide in the reactant half.
• H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + H₂O

• To balance the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, put stoichiometric coefficient 2 before the water in the product half and compare the reactant half with the product half.
• H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + 2H₂O

Reactant Atoms	Product Atoms
4 Hydrogen atoms from Sulphuric Acid and Lithium Hydroxide.	4 Hydrogen atoms from Water.
1 Sulphur atom from Sulphuric Acid.	1 Sulphur atom from Lithium Sulphate.
6 Oxygen atoms from Sulphuric Acid and Lithium Hydroxide.	6 Oxygen atoms from Lithium Sulphate and Water.
2 Lithium atoms from Lithium Hydroxide.	2 Lithium atoms from Lithium Sulphate.

• Reactant atoms equal the product atoms. Thus, the above equation is the balanced equation.
• H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + 2H₂O

H₂SO₄ + LiOH Titration

H₂SO₄ + LiOH undergo titration to find the unknown sulphuric acid concentration by neutralising it with a known lithium hydroxide solution.

Apparatus Used

• Unknown Sulphuric Acid Solution
• Phenolphthalein
• Known Lithium Hydroxide Solution
• Beaker
• Pipette
• Stand
• Glass funnel
• Test tube
• Burette
• Burette clamp

Indicator

Phenolphthalein is a colourless indicator used in acid-base titrations.

Procedure

• Rinse the burette with a lithium hydroxide solution, fill it to the tip with a lithium hydroxide solution, and then record the burette’s initial reading as 0.
• Then, using a pipette, carefully suck the unidentified hydrochloric acid solution and transfer it to a titration flask.
• Add a tiny bit of phenolphthalein to the titration flask.
• Fill the titration flask with the known sodium hydroxide solution from the burette until the colour turns pink.
• Note readings and repeat them over again.
• We shall employ the following equations to determine the titrant’s normality:
• N1V1 = N2V2
• After determining the normality of the titrant, we can use the following formulae to calculate the mass of the substance:
• Mass of substance = Equivalent Weight X Normality X Volume / 1000.

H₂SO₄ + LiOH Net Ionic Equation

H₂SO₄ + LiOH net ionic equation is:

2H⁺ + 2OH^– → 2H₂O.

We will follow the below steps to derive the net ionic equation.

• First, we will write the total balanced equation to derive the net ionic equation.
• H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + 2H₂O
• We can write the total ionic equation for the above-balanced equation as follows:
• 2H⁺ + SO₄^2- + 2Li⁺ + 2OH^– → 2Li⁺ + SO₄^2- + 2H₂O.
• 2Li⁺ and SO₄^2- ions are present in both reactants and products. Thus, it will get cancelled.
• Hence, the net ionic equation would be:
• 2H⁺ + 2OH^– → 2H₂O.

H₂SO₄ + LiOH Conjugate Pairs

• The conjugate base of H₂SO₄ is SO₄^2- ion.
• The conjugate acid of LiOH is Li⁺.

H₂SO₄ and LiOH Intermolecular Forces

H₂SO₄ and LiOH have electrostatic, van der waal, hydrogen bonding and dipole intermolecular forces.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH a Buffer Solution

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is not a buffer solution as it contains a pair of strong acids and a strong base, whereas a buffer is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base or vice versa.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH a Complete Reaction

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is a complete reaction as there is no reactant at last.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH an Exothermic Reaction

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is an exothermic reaction because the value of delta G is negative.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH a Redox Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is not a redox reaction as the oxidation state of atoms remains constant.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH a Precipitation Reaction

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is not a precipitation reaction, as no residue is left.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH Irreversible Reaction

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is an irreversible reaction as it is directed in one direction, and we can not get reactants from the products.

Is H₂SO₄ + LiOH Displacement Reaction

H₂SO₄ + LiOH is a displacement reaction as the sulphate ion exchanges its position with the hydroxide ion to form lithium sulphate, and the hydroxide ion exchanges its position from the sulphate ion to form water.

H₂SO₄ + 2LiOH → Li₂SO₄ + 2H₂O

Conclusion

This article summaries the reaction between H₂SO₄ and LiOH. They react to give a neutralisation reaction forming lithium sulphate salt and water. It is a single-directional, exothermic, double-displacement reaction.