Final answer:
The balanced equation for the decomposition of solid lithium hydroxide into lithium oxide and water is: 2 LiOH(s) → Li2O(s) + H2O(l). This reflects the stoichiometry and conservation of mass principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decomposition of solid lithium hydroxide (LiOH) into lithium oxide (Li2O) and water (H2O) is a chemical reaction that can be represented by a balanced equation. The balanced equation for this decomposition reaction is:
2 LiOH(s) → Li2O(s) + H2O(l)
In this reaction, two moles of solid lithium hydroxide decompose upon heating to yield one mole of solid lithium oxide and one mole of liquid water. The stoichiometry of the reaction is based on the principle of conservation of mass where the number of atoms for each element must be equal on both the reactant and product side of the equation. Given that the formula of lithium oxide is Li2O, two lithium ions are needed to balance with one oxide ion, which is reflected in the balanced chemical equation.
\