Lithium bromide

Overview
Lithium bromide, or LiBr, is a chemical compound of lithium and bromine. Its extreme hygroscopic character makes LiBr useful as a desiccant in certain air conditioning systems.

Production and properties
LiBr is prepared by treatment of lithium carbonate with hydrobromic acid. The salt forms several crystalline hydrates, unlike the other alkali metal bromides. The anhydrous salt forms cubic crystals similar to salt

Uses
Lithium bromide is used in air-conditioning systems as desiccant. Otherwise the salt is useful as a reagent in organic synthesis. For example it reversibly forms adducts with some pharmaceuticals.

Medical applications
Lithium bromide was used as a sedative beginning in the early 1900s, but it fell into disfavor in the 1940s when some heart patients died after using it as a salt substitute. Like lithium carbonate and lithium chloride it was used as treatment for Bipolar disorder.

Hazards
Lithium salts are psychoactive and somewhat corrosive. Dosages for lithium carbonate are ca. 200 mg/day.