What happens when the following are heated? Lithium nitrate

When lithium nitrate (LiNO3) is heated, it undergoes thermal decomposition. The thermal decomposition of lithium nitrate can be described by the following chemical equation:

2LiNO3(s) → 2Li2O(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)

In this reaction:

Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) decomposes into lithium oxide (Li2O), nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2), and oxygen gas (O2).

The solid lithium nitrate breaks down into solid lithium oxide, and the release of gases (nitrogen dioxide and oxygen) results in the evolution of gas bubbles and potentially some effervescence.

Nitrogen dioxide is a brownish-red gas, so you may observe a reddish-brown color in the gas being evolved.

The reaction is endothermic, meaning it absorbs heat from the surroundings, which is why it is considered a thermal decomposition reaction. This process requires energy input to break the bonds in the lithium nitrate molecules.

Overall, when lithium nitrate is heated, it decomposes into different products, including lithium oxide and gases, while absorbing heat from its surroundings.