Lithium Oxide reacts with water and you get two Lithium Hydroxide, so when it reach a mucous membrane it will split intermediately into Li+ and HO- and nobody will remember they were together.
Lithium Carbonate is very soluble, so once it reach a mucous membrane
it will dissolve, split in two Li+ and one CO3= and nobody will remember they were together.
So in both cases you get intermediately Li+ so I expect no differences in the bioavailability. (IANAMD. Don't try this at home)
But there is an important difference:
Lithium Oxide one is too alkaline and so I guess that inhaling it is like inhaling quicklime power and you may get a huge irritation. If there are firefighter, rain or other sources of water you will get Lithium Hidroxide that is like hydrated lime that is not as bad.
Lithium Carbonate is only slightly alkaline (like anti acid pills) so I guess that inhaling it is like inhaling limestone power that is not a good idea but is no terrible.
Lithium Carbonate is very soluble, so once it reach a mucous membrane it will dissolve, split in two Li+ and one CO3= and nobody will remember they were together.
So in both cases you get intermediately Li+ so I expect no differences in the bioavailability. (IANAMD. Don't try this at home)
But there is an important difference:
Lithium Oxide one is too alkaline and so I guess that inhaling it is like inhaling quicklime power and you may get a huge irritation. If there are firefighter, rain or other sources of water you will get Lithium Hidroxide that is like hydrated lime that is not as bad.
Lithium Carbonate is only slightly alkaline (like anti acid pills) so I guess that inhaling it is like inhaling limestone power that is not a good idea but is no terrible.