lithiummolybdate

Lithium molybdate, with the chemical formula Li2MoO4, is an inorganic compound consisting of two lithium ions balanced by one molybdate (MoO4^2−) anion. It is the lithium salt of molybdic acid and appears as a white, crystalline solid at room temperature. The compound can form hydrates from aqueous solution and is typically prepared by reacting MoO3 with lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide in water, with the resulting solution filtered and the product obtained by evaporation and drying. An alternative route is the high-temperature solid-state reaction between Li2CO3 and MoO3.

Li2MoO4 is part of the family of alkali metal molybdates and shares properties common to these salts, such as thermal stability and reactivity with acids and other oxidants. In many contexts it is used as a chemical precursor for the preparation of more complex molybdenum oxide materials. It serves as a source of Li+ and MoO4^2− in solid-state syntheses and can be employed in research on catalysis, ceramics, and glass science. In aqueous chemistry, Li2MoO4 can contribute to molybdate equilibria and may form hydrated forms under ambient conditions.

Safety and handling: as a soluble inorganic salt, Li2MoO4 should be handled with standard laboratory precautions to avoid ingestion, inhalation, and prolonged skin contact. It is not a common dietary source of lithium and is not intended for biological use.