text: Alkyl-lithium compounds are stored under inert gas to prevent loss of activity and for reasons of safety. n-BuLi reacts violently with water:
  :CHLi + HO → CH + LiOH
  This is an exergonic and highly exothermic reaction. If oxygen is present the butane produced may ignite.
  BuLi also reacts with CO to give lithium pentanoate:
  :CHLi + CO → CHCOLi