The Rohrbaugh Forum

Miscellaneous => The Water Cooler -- General Discussions => Topic started by: Calvin Cooledge on January 07, 2007, 12:32:24 PM

Title: Have we discussed exploding Lithium batteries?...
Post by: Calvin Cooledge on January 07, 2007, 12:32:24 PM

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=42

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, guys. Busy busy,
and the Christmas travel took a lot of my time.

Anyway, Happy New Year and don't buy any exploding
batteries :o

Calvin Cooledge
(PS-I did a feeble search on this forum and came up with
nothing. If we've already discussed this, I apologize!)

Title: Re: Have we discussed exploding Lithium batteries?
Post by: riffraff on January 07, 2007, 05:48:58 PM

It is my limited understanding that when Lithium comes into contact with water it can explode.  So any Lithium battery is potentially hazardous.

Mike

Title: Re: Have we discussed exploding Lithium batteries?
Post by: tracker on January 07, 2007, 07:41:30 PM

That could explain, in part, why most lithium battery
flashlights are waterproof--a great idea in any flashlight.

Title: Re: Have we discussed exploding Lithium batteries?
Post by: Richard S on January 08, 2007, 11:50:37 AM

Mike and Tracker are right.  Mixing lithium and water produces lithium hydroxide (LiOH), a corrosive alkali. The reaction is violent and can generate so much heat that the hydrogen produced burns with a purple flame.  Lithium batteries should be kept away from water.  

(I'm not a chemist, but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and I did accidentally blow up the drain of a sink in my high school chemistry lab one day back in 1954.  :D)

Title: Re: Have we discussed exploding Lithium batteries?
Post by: tracker on January 08, 2007, 07:47:12 PM

FYI,
I ordered 10 CR-123 batteries from David at Fenix and
after reading the above link was very pleased to see that
they are made in the good ole US of A. ~$20 for 10 batteries.