Lithium aluminium hydride - Definition and Overview

Lithium Aluminum Hydride (LiAlH₄) is a common reduction agent.

It will convert esters, carboxylic acids and ketones to alcohols; and nitrites into amines.

It reacts with water, including atmospheric moisture, and can spontaneously burst into flame if this process continues. This process is slow enough that it nornmally doesn't require handling under an atmosphere of inert gases.

In an absolutely pure state, it is a white solid, but commercial samples are almost always grey due to trace comtamination with aluminum metal. A commercial sample of LAH that is white is almost always one that has absorbed enough moisture to become a mixture of lithium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.

Example Usage of aluminium