Abstract
The existence of the stable molecule Li2H was proved experimentally for the first time by mass spectrometric measurements over dilute solutions of hydrogen in liquid lithium. From measurements of the gaseous equilibria Li2H(g)+Li(g) ?LiH(g)+Li2(g) and Li2H(g)+Li2(g) ?LiH(g) +Li3(g), a dissociation energy D00(Li2H) =89.7±5.0 kcal/mole was obtained. The ionization potential of Li2H was determined as I.P.(Li2H) =4.5±0.2 eV, from which the binding energy D00(Li2H+) =299.0±6.0 kcal/mole results.