Question

When hydrolith is treated with water, it yields
(A) ${H_2}$
(B) ${H_2}{O_2}$
(C) $N{H_3}$
(D) $P{H_3}$

Answer 1

In order to know what hydrolith will yield when treated with water, we must first have an idea about what a hydrolith is. Hydrolith is a binary compound which is known as calcium hydride and has a salt-like structure. The chemical formula for hydrolith is $Ca{H_2}$.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us first understand about hydrolith. Hydrolith is said to be alkaline earth hydride. Hydrolith is a binary compound which is known as calcium hydride and has a salt-like structure. The chemical formula for hydrolith is $Ca{H_2}$. Hydrolith is grey in colour. Hydrolith is known to be a very strong reducing agent. Hydrolith is insoluble in all solvents. Therefore, it does not react vigorously. It is used as a drying agent in the desiccator. Hydrolith can also be called a philosopher's stone.
When the hydrolith, i.e., the calcium hydride reacts with water molecules and it will produce a hydrogen gas along with calcium hydroxide. The reaction for hydrolith with water is given below:
$Ca{H_2} + 2{H_2}O \to Ca{(OH)_2} + 2{H_2}$

Therefore, the correct answer is option (A).

Note:
We have to remember that the hydrolith (calcium hydride) has various uses such as:
- Hydrolith is used for inflating balloons.
- Hydrolith is used as a desiccant.
- Hydrolith is used in immersion lithography.
- Hydrolith is a source for hydrogen.