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Is lithium hydroxide as strong as lye?
And why doesn’t it need a base like calcium hydroxide does?
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5 Replies
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It’s nearly as alkaline as sodium hydroxide.Calcium hydroxide is slightly less alkaline (still medium-strong though) but foremost it’s very poorly water soluble and henceforth doesn’t act as a strong base under certain conditions. -
Pharma said:It’s nearly as alkaline as sodium hydroxide.Calcium hydroxide is slightly less alkaline (still medium-strong though) but foremost it’s very poorly water soluble and henceforth doesn’t act as a strong base under certain conditions.Which would work better as a relaxer? I’ve rarely seen lithium used…whereas calcium and lye are most common. I wonder why.
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Higher price and toxicity?Also, it’s behaviour is different… not sure how (better or worse in a relaxer?).It’s likely having a better penetration which would weaken hair to the core.
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Counter ions can make a difference in some applications, but it’s hard to understand why. K hypochlorite is more effective than Na hypochlorite in Tilex-type products but more expensive.
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also, the reason calcium hydroxide relaxers have to be mixed with guanidine carbonate before use is because they form guanidine hydroxide when mixedalthough it’s highly effective and less caustic than mineral hydroxides, it’s also chemically unstable, so it has to be formed in situ
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