Investigation of the Reaction Between Liquid Lithium and Lithium Chloride‐Potassium Chloride Melts

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Abstract
The fumes over lithium chloride‐potassium chloride melts containing lithium were determined to be potassium vapors resulting from the exchange reaction between the lithium and the potassium chloride in the melt. The rate of this reaction was measured by using a simple electrochemical half‐cell containing two lithium electrodes. The amount of unreacted lithium was determined at any desired time by transporting it electrochemically between the electrodes. The reaction rate was determined at various current densities up to 3000 A/m2 over a temperature range of 648°–773°K; it was found to be independent of current density, potassium chloride concentration in the melt, and electrode‐melt interfacial area. The activation energy was found to be 111 kJ/mol of lithium, which is nearly equal to the heat of potassium vaporization (115 kJ/mol) from the melt. Since the activation energy is about equal to the heat of potassium vaporization, the rate of the reaction of lithium with potassium chloride is considered to be controlled by the rate of potassium vaporization from the melt.

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