[Borek]

The only test that I have found that I could use to see if this is in fact lithium carbonate is to burn it but I don't have a heat source strong enough to ignite it.

Lithium carbonate doesn't burn, so there is no heat source strong enough to ignite it.

[408]

Decanted then added some acetone.

No.

Filter the precipitated white powder.  Rinse with water.  Then optionally rinse with acetone.  Otherwise you will be precipitating out NaCl into your otherwise-pure Li2CO3.

Suspension in a flame should give the lithium red colour.  Addition to HCl should give bubbles.  There quick and dirty analysis that does not tell you how pure it is, but that it is Lithium carbonate

[dudeman]

Decanted then added some acetone.

Filter the precipitated white powder.  Rinse with water.  Then optionally rinse with acetone.  Otherwise you will be precipitating out NaCl into your otherwise-pure Li2CO3.

How would this precipitate NaCl? This is confusing to me... (Remember I have no chemistry classes and this is just an awesome hobby)

[408]

If you just decant water, there is much salt containing water still mixed with your precipitated carbonate.  If you add acetone to this, you will precipitate out salt from this water as salt is insoluble in acetone.  You need to filter the carbonate first, and then rinse with acetone.

[dudeman]

If you just decant water, there is much salt containing water still mixed with your precipitated carbonate.  If you add acetone to this, you will precipitate out salt from this water as salt is insoluble in acetone.  You need to filter the carbonate first, and then rinse with acetone.

Awesome... Thank you...

[Borek]

I have edited the thread removing some parts of it, let's stick to synthesis details.

Learn the lesson.

[typhoon2028]

Borek = Censorship

[Borek]

Apart from censoring the posts I can also ban users.

[dudeman]

Ok guys I'm back with an update... Thanks for reopening the thread borek.

I have come to believe that the lithium carbonate I have is quite contaminated. I consider the risks and try to understand what could be contaminating it before testing it and think it is relatively safe since there is most likely nothing highly poisonous in it.

The only possible contaminates I can think of would be the reactants. Sodium Carbonate (acidic) and lithium chloride (Small amount of lithium chloride solution had a ph of 4). Both reactants are relatively safe compared to cyanide like one user said earlier on in the thread. I have discovered the product to have a hard time drying out. This might be due to contamination with lithium chloride which LOVES water and basically turns into water if left in the open air. I have also found the product to be slightly irritating when a small amount is rubbed into the skin (not a significant risk under the current circumstances).

Reasons for contamination.
-------------------------------------------------
incorrect proportions of reactants
not enough time given for the reaction to complete
poor conditions of the reaction vessel
(tried washing the lithium carbonate finding it pointless)

Solution to remove contaminants
-------------------------------------------------
Completely dry and powder the contaminated lithium carbonate then pour the powder into a flask. Create a weak solution of lithium chloride in ethyl alcohol (my guess is 10%). Add the solution to the flask. Add a stir bar. Place on magnetic stirrer and let it stir for a couple of hours to completely react with any sodium carbonate. Wash with alcohol 3x to remove any lithium chloride then place the lithium carbonate into a filter and wash once with alcohol to remove any last traces of lithium chloride.

Would this work?

EDIT:
Just to let you guys know. Since some of you are curious. I will be using this substance in some bottle rockets later on down the road. I will upload a picture or two if that is allowed.

No body in their right mind would want to take this substance as a medicine. It's specifically reserved for those who are severely mentally ill and prescribed as a last resort due to the chance of liver and kidney damage. I also believe that it is illegal to sell this substance for ingestion. It's legal to put it in fireworks and stuff though.

[408]

Use the stoichiometric correct amounts of reagents.
Aqueous solutions of each.
Mix and stirr for a few hours
Filter
rinse with water (NOT pointless)
rinse ethanol
dry
make rockets.

Why the lithium salt?  Strontium gives red too, and is cheaper.

[nj_bartel]

Sodium Carbonate (acidic)

if this wasn't a typo, please do some kind of reading so you can understand the chemistry behind your experiment

[dudeman]

Like I said in my last post. How might I remove these contaminants? The mass is to sticky to wash when in the filter 408. The only way I could wash this is to put it back into solution and decant due to the nature of the compound. Its like wet flower only it has the characteristics of corn starch too. To hard to wash.

[dudeman]

Sodium Carbonate (acidic)

if this wasn't a typo, please do some kind of reading so you can understand the chemistry behind your experiment

what I meant was that it is irritating. I got a wiff of some dust from when I opened the bag and wow did my lungs feel a pinch.

[408]

Ah, you lack vacuum filtration...

Decant off supernatant.  Add water.  stir then allow to settle.  Repeat this a bunch of times.

Then filter.

[jcmtz]

isnt Li2CO3 dangerous? in a kind a works as a depressant or some.

if its used in pyro and you want the red color, you could try stronium chloride too