2825.20.00.00 - Lithium oxide and hydroxide

This HTS category, 2825.20.00.00, specifically covers lithium oxide and lithium hydroxide. These are inorganic compounds of lithium, essential for various industrial applications, most notably in the production of batteries, ceramics, and as reagents in chemical synthesis. Lithium oxide (Li₂O) is a white solid, while lithium hydroxide (LiOH), often encountered in monohydrate form (LiOH·H₂O), is also a white crystalline solid. The classification focuses on these specific binary compounds of lithium with oxygen, or lithium with oxygen and hydrogen.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling entries. For instance, 2825.10.00.00 covers hydrazine and hydroxylamine compounds, which are nitrogen-based. Other siblings, such as 2825.30.00 (vanadium oxides/hydroxides) and 2825.40.00.00 (nickel oxides/hydroxides), classify oxides and hydroxides of different base metals. This node is exclusively for lithium's metallic oxides and hydroxides, differentiating it by the specific metallic element involved and its associated oxygen-based compounds.

As a leaf node, 2825.20.00.00 does not have further subdivisions within the HTS. Therefore, classification at this level relies on accurately identifying the substance as lithium oxide or lithium hydroxide. This involves verifying the chemical composition and ensuring that the material does not fall under more specific classifications elsewhere in Chapter 28 or other chapters of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, such as those for finished articles or mixtures with other significant components.