"Reactivity Alerts
Strong Reducing Agent
Water-Reactive
Air-Reactive
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Is readily ignited by and reacts with most extinguishing agents such as water, carbon dioxide, and carbon tetrachloride [Mellor 2, Supp 2:71. 1961]. Reacts with water to form caustic lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas (H2). Lithium is spontaneously flammable in air if heated to 180°C if the surface of the metal is clean.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Strong alkali fumes are formed in fire.
Behavior in Fire: Molten lithium is quite easily ignited and is then difficult to extinguish. Hot or burning lithium will react with all gases except those of the helium-argon group. It also reacts violently with concrete, wood, asphalt, sand, asbestos; and in fact, nearly everything except metal. Do not apply water to adjacent fires. Hydrogen explosion may result. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Contact with eyes causes caustic irritation or burn. Incontact with skin lithium reacts with body moisture to cause chemical burns: foil, ribbon, and wire react relatively slowly. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
Burns in air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The reactions can become extremely violent at higher temperatures. The disposition to ignite of surfaces of molten lithium exposed to any of these gases is increased by the presence of lithium oxides and nitrides. Lithium reacts avidly with water to generate gaseous hydrogen and a solution of lithium hydroxide (a caustic). Contact with halogenated hydrocarbons can produce extremely violent reactions, especially on impact [Haz. Chem. Data 1966]. Boron trifluoride reacts with incandescence when heated with lithium [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. Maleic anhydride decomposes explosively in the presence of lithium [Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD-88. 1962, Chem. Haz. Info. Series C-71. 1960]. Chlorine vapors and lithium react producing a luminous flame [Mellor 2, Supp. 1:380. 1956]. The product of the reaction between lithium and carbon monoxide, lithium carbonyl, detonates violently with water, igniting the gaseous products [Mellor 2, Supp. 2:84. 1961]. The reaction of lithium and ferrous sulfide starts around 260° C with subsequent rise in temperature to 950° C [Mellor 2, Supp. 2:80. 1961]. A truck, which was carrying lithium batteries, sodium dithionite and derivatives of cyanide, caught fire; multiple explosions occurred as the cargo was exposed to the air.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Metals, Alkali, Very Active"
" Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:
As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.
SPILL: Increase, in the downwind direction, as necessary, the isolation distance shown above.
FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2016)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:
DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM.SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.
LARGE FIRE: DRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk."
"Protective Clothing
Rubber or plastic gloves; face shield; respirator; fire-retardant clothing (USCG, 1999) "
https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/999Lithium is lighter than water.