The structure of the dilithium molecule, Li₂

A space-filling model of Li₂

Dilithium, Li₂, is a diatomic molecule comprising two lithium atoms covalently bonded together. Space-filling models (also known as calotte models or CPK models by Corey, Pauling and Koltun like Ball-and-stick models belong Diatomic molecules are molecules made only of two Atoms of either the same or different Chemical elements The prefix di- means two in Greek Lithium (ˈlɪθiəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Li and Atomic number 3 History See also Atomic theory, Atomism The concept that matter is composed of discrete units and cannot be divided into arbitrarily tiny Li₂ is known in the gas phase. This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter In the Physical sciences a phase is a Set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties It has a bond order of 1, an internuclear separation of 267. Bond order is the number of bonds between a pair of atoms For example in Nitrogen N≡N the bond order is 3 in Acetylene H−C≡C−H the bond order between the 3 pm and a bond energy of 101 kJ mol⁻¹. A picometre ( American spelling: picometer, symbol pm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one trillionth In Chemistry, bond energy ( E) is a measure of Bond strength in a Chemical bond. ^[1]

Higher numbers of covalently bonded lithium atoms exist, albeit in small quantities. It has been observed, for example, that 1% of lithium in the vapor phase (by mass) is in the form of dilithium. Clusters of lithium atoms also exist; the most common arrangement is Li₆. In Chemistry, a cluster is an ensemble of bound Atoms intermediate in size between a Molecule and a bulk Solid.

See also

• Dilithium molecular orbital diagram

References

Further reading

• Greenwood, N. N. ; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements, 2nd Edition, Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.