2007-04-15 14:13:17 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As you know, the Apollo Mission people had to squeeze in as much as they could into that tiny capsule - life support systems for three people, food, and virtually anything else you can imagine.
Lithium hydroxide has a lower molecular weight than sodium hydroxide. So, if you take an equimolar amount (same number of molecules) of lithum hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, the sodium hydroxide weighs a LOT more.
The short answer, lithium hydroxide is lighter than an equimolar amount of sodium hydroxide.
They were saving on weight.
2007-04-15 14:22:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
To complete the question: why was Lithium Hydroxide used, to clean the co2 from the air, instead of Sodium Hydroxide in the Apollo missions?
Lithium Hydroxide reacts with co2 to in the same way as Sodium Hydroxide by turning it into soild carbonate. Lithium is lighter, however, and therefore the smarter choice.
2007-04-15 21:31:31 · answer #2 · answered by DrAnders_pHd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deadman is correct. LiOH is a lot more expensive than NaOH but it costs tens of thousands of dollars to get a kg of payload into Earth orbit or further, so you're saving money by shaving off even a few grams.
2007-04-15 17:25:21 · answer #3 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's lighter.
2007-04-16 11:57:34 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋