Editing Lithium (section)

=== Inorganic compounds ===
Lithium forms salt-like derivatives with all [[halide]]s and pseudohalides. Some examples include the halides [[lithium fluoride|LiF]], [[lithium chloride|LiCl]], [[lithium bromide|LiBr]], [[Lithium iodide|LiI]], as well as the [[pseudohalide]]s and related anions. Lithium carbonate has been described as the most important compound of lithium.<ref name="Greenwood" />  This white solid is the principal product of [[beneficiation]] of lithium ores. It is a precursor to other salts including ceramics and materials for lithium batteries.

The compounds [[Lithium borohydride|{{chem|LiBH|4}}]] and [[Lithium aluminium hydride|{{chem|LiAlH|4}}]] are useful [[reagent]]s.  These salts and many other lithium salts exhibit distinctively high solubility in ethers, in contrast with salts of heavier alkali metals.

In aqueous solution, the [[coordination complex]] [Li(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>+</sup> predominates for many lithium salts. Related complexes are known with amines and ethers.