3 helium ← lithium → beryllium H ↑ Li ↓ Na Periodic table - Extended periodic table
General
Name, symbol, number	lithium, Li, 3
Chemical series	alkali metals
Group, period, block	1, 2, s
Appearance	silvery white/grey
Standard atomic weight	6.941(2) g·mol−1
Electron configuration	1s2 2s1
Electrons per shell	2, 1
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Density (near r.t.)	0. Helium ( He) is a colorless odorless tasteless non-toxic Inert Monatomic Chemical Beryllium (bəˈrɪliəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Be and Atomic number 4 Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 This is a typical display of the periodic table of the elements and contains the symbol and Atomic number of each element Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of Chemical elements, sorted by name Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of chemical elements by symbol, including the A table of Chemical elements ordered by Atomic number and color coded according to type of element In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in Trends The alkali metals show a number of trends when moving down the group - for instance decreasing electronegativity increasing reactivity and decreasing melting and boiling In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in In the Periodic table of the elements, a period is a horizontal row of the table A block of the Periodic table of elements is a set of adjacent groups The respective highest-energy electrons in each element in a block belong to the same Atomic Trends The alkali metals show a number of trends when moving down the group - for instance decreasing electronegativity increasing reactivity and decreasing melting and boiling A period 2 element is one of the Chemical elements in the second row (or period) of the periodic table of the chemical elements. See also Electron configuration The atomic mass (ma is the Mass of an atom most often expressed in unified atomic mass units The atomic mass may be considered to be the total mass To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following list describes various Mass levels between 10&minus36&thinsp kg and 1053&thinspkg Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) In Atomic physics and Quantum chemistry, electron configuration is the arrangement of Electrons in an Atom, Molecule, or other The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J An electron shell may be crudely thought of as an Orbit followed by Electrons around an Atom nucleus. 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 A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed 534 g·cm−3
Liquid density at m.p.	0. Kilogram per cubic metre is the SI measure of Density and is represented as kg/m³ where kg stands for Kilogram and m³ stands for Cubic metre The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 512 g·cm−3
Melting point	453. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 69 K (180. The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic 54 °C, 356. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 97 °F)
Boiling point	1615 K (1342 °C, 2448 °F)
Critical point	(extrapolated) 3223 K, 67 MPa
Heat of fusion	3. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the Vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 In Physical chemistry, Thermodynamics, Chemistry and Condensed matter physics, a critical point, also called a critical state The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic The standard Enthalpy of fusion (symbol \Delta{}H_{fus} also known as the heat of fusion or specific melting heat, is the amount of 00 kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization	147. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material The enthalpy of vaporization, (symbol \Delta{}_{v}H also known as the heat of vaporization or heat of evaporation, is the Energy required 1 kJ·mol−1
Specific heat capacity	(25 °C) 24. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity 860 J·mol−1·K−1
Vapor pressure P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 797 885 995 1144 1337 1610
Atomic properties
Crystal structure	body centered cubic
Oxidation states	1 (strongly basic oxide)
Electronegativity	0. Vapor pressure (also known as equilibrium vapor pressure or saturation vapor pressure) is the Pressure of a Vapor in equilibrium In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. The oxidation number of a central atom in a coordination compound is the charge that it would have if all the Ligands were removed along with the Electron pairs In Chemistry, a base is most commonly thought of as an aqueous substance that can accept Protons This refers to the Brønsted-Lowry theory of acids and " Electronegativity " is the opposite of " Electropositivity," which describes an element's ability to donate electrons 98 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies	1st: 520. The ionization potential, ionization energy or EI of an Atom or Molecule is the Energy required to remove an Electron 2 kJ·mol−1
	2nd: 7298. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material 1 kJ·mol−1
	3rd: 11815. 0 kJ·mol−1
Atomic radius	145 pm
Atomic radius (calc. Atomic radius, and more generally the size of an atom, is not a precisely defined Physical quantity, nor is it constant in all circumstances A picometre ( American spelling: picometer, symbol pm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one trillionth )	167 pm
Covalent radius	134 pm
Van der Waals radius	182 pm
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering	paramagnetic
Electrical resistivity	(20 °C) 92. The covalent radius, r cov is a measure of the size of Atom which forms part of a Covalent bond. Van der Waals Volume The van der Waals volume, V, also called the atomic volume or molecular volume, is the atomic property most directly In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. Electrical resistivity (also known as specific electrical resistance) is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of Electric current. 8 nΩ·m
Thermal conductivity	(300 K) 84. In Physics, thermal conductivity, k is the property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct Heat. 8 W·m−1·K−1
Thermal expansion	(25 °C) 46 µm·m−1·K−1
Speed of sound (thin rod)	(20 °C) 6000 m/s
Young's modulus	4. When the Temperature of a substance changes the energy that is stored in the Intermolecular bonds between atoms changes Sound is a vibration that travels through an elastic medium as a Wave. In Solid mechanics, Young's modulus (E is a measure of the Stiffness of an isotropic elastic material 9 GPa
Shear modulus	4. In Materials science, shear modulus or modulus of rigidity, denoted by G, or sometimes S or μ, is defined as the ratio of Shear 2 GPa
Bulk modulus	11 GPa
Mohs hardness	0. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various Minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material 6
CAS registry number	7439-93-2
Selected isotopes
Main article: Isotopes of lithium iso NA half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 6Li 7. CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to Naturally occurring Lithium ( Li) (standard atomic mass 6941(2 u) is composed of two stable Isotopes ( and, the latter being the more abundant Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides In Chemistry, natural abundance (NA refers to the abundance Isotopes of a Chemical element as naturally found on a planet Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. The decay energy is the Energy released by a Nuclear decay. The energy difference of the Reactants is often written as Q: where Q In Nuclear physics, a decay product, also known as a daughter product, daughter isotope or daughter nuclide, is a Nuclide 5% 6Li is stable with 3 neutrons 7Li 92. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 5% 7Li is stable with 4 neutrons 6Li content may be as low as 3. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 75% in natural samples. 7Li would therefore have a content of up to 96. 25%.
References
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Lithium (pronounced /ˈlɪθiəm/) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. Recommended values for many properties of the elements together with various references are collected on these data pages A chemical element is a type of Atom that is distinguished by its Atomic number; that is by the number of Protons in its nucleus. See also List of elements by atomic number In Chemistry and Physics, the atomic number (also known as the proton It is a soft alkali metal with a silver-white color. Trends The alkali metals show a number of trends when moving down the group - for instance decreasing electronegativity increasing reactivity and decreasing melting and boiling Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. In Physical sciences standard conditions for temperature and pressure are Standard sets of conditions for experimental measurements to allow comparisons to be made The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive, corroding quickly in moist air to form a black tarnish. Corrosion means the breaking down of essential properties in a material due to Chemical reactions with its surroundings Temperature and layers The temperature of the Earth's atmosphere varies with altitude the mathematical relationship between temperature and altitude varies among five For this reason, lithium metal is typically stored under the cover of oil. An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is

According to theory, lithium (mostly ⁷Li) was one of the few elements synthesized in the Big Bang, although its quantity has vastly decreased. In Physical cosmology, Big Bang nucleosynthesis (or primordial nucleosynthesis) refers to the production of nuclei other than those of H-1 (i The Big Bang is the cosmological model of the Universe that is best supported by all lines of scientific evidence and Observation. The reasons for its disappearance and the processes by which new lithium is created continue to be important matters of study in astronomy. Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study Lithium is the 33rd most abundant element on Earth, ^[1] but due to its high reactivity only appears naturally in the form of compounds. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion by Mass. Lithium occurs in a number of pegmatitic minerals, but is also commonly obtained from brines and clays; on a commercial scale, lithium metal is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. Pegmatite is a very coarse-grained Igneous rock that has a grain size of 20 mm or more such rocks are referred to as pegmatitic. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific Brine (lat saltus) is Water saturated or nearly saturated with Salt (NaCl Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and In chemistry and manufacturing electrolysis is a method of separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an Electric current Lithium chloride is a Chemical compound with the formula Li[[Chlorine Cl]] The Chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl is a Metal Halide salt composed of Potassium and Chlorine.

Trace amounts of lithium are present in the oceans and in some organisms, though the element serves no apparent biological function in humans. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. Nevertheless, the neurological effect of the lithium ion Li⁺ makes some lithium salts useful as a class of mood stabilizing drugs. A salt, in Chemistry, is defined as the product formed from the neutralisation reaction of Acids and bases. This article refers to the medication For other uses see Stabilizer. Lithium and its compounds have several other commercial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, high strength-to-weight alloys used in aircraft, and lithium batteries. Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has Lithium batteries are not to be confused with lithium-ion batteries which are high energy-density rechargeable batteries Lithium batteries are Lithium also has important links to nuclear physics: the splitting of lithium atoms was the first man-made form of a nuclear reaction, and lithium deuteride serves as the fusion fuel in staged thermonuclear weapons. Nuclear physics is the field of Physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of Atomic nuclei. Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may In Nuclear physics, a nuclear reaction is the process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide to produce products different from the initial particles Lithium hydride ( Li[[Hydride H]] is the compound of Lithium and hydrogen In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus The Teller–Ulam design is a Nuclear weapon design which is used in Megaton -range Thermonuclear weapons and is more colloquially referred to as "the

Contents 1 History and etymology 2 Properties 3 Chemistry 4 Isotopes 5 Natural occurrence 6 Applications 6.1 Medical use 6.2 Other uses 7 Production 8 Precautions 8.1 Regulation 9 References 10 See also 11 External links

History and etymology

Petalite (lithium aluminium silicate) was first described in 1800 by the Brazilian scientist José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva, who discovered the mineral in a Swedish iron mine on the island of Utö. Petalite, also known as castorite is a Lithium Aluminium tectosilicate Mineral Li[[aluminum Al]] Si 4 "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Utö is a small island in the East of Stockholm archipelago, famous for its nature However, it was not until 1817 that Johann August Arfwedson, then a trainee in the laboratory of Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discovered the presence of a new element while analyzing petalite ore. Friherre Jöns Jacob Berzelius (20 August 1779 &ndash 7 August 1848 was a Swedish chemist The element formed compounds similar to those of sodium and potassium, though its carbonate and hydroxide were less water soluble and had a larger capacity to neutralize acid. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 In Chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or Ester of Carbonic acid. In Chemistry, hydroxide is the most common name for the diatomic Anion OH− consisting of Oxygen and Hydrogen Solubility is the characteristic Physical property referring to the ability of a given substance the Solute, to dissolve in a Solvent. Berzelius gave the alkaline material the name "lithos", from the Greek λιθoς (lithos, "stone"), to reflect its discovery in a mineral, as opposed to sodium and potassium which had been discovered in plant tissue; its name would later be standardized as "lithium". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Arfwedson later showed that this same element was present in the mineral ores spodumene and lepidolite. "Kunzite" redirects here For the Sailor Moon character see Shitennou. Lepidolite (KLi2Al(AlSi3O10(FOH2 is a lilac or rose-violet colored phyllosilicate Mineral of the Mica group In 1818, Christian Gmelin was the first to observe that lithium salts give a bright red color in flame. Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Christian Gottlob Gmelin ( October 12, 1792 - May 13, 1860) was a German Chemist. However, both Arfwedson and Gmelin tried and failed to isolate the element from its salts. ^[2][3][4]

The element was not isolated until 1821, when William Thomas Brande performed electrolysis on lithium oxide, a process which had previously been employed by Sir Humphry Davy to isolate potassium and sodium. William Thomas Brande FRS ( 11 January 1788 - 11 February 1866) English Chemist, was born in London In chemistry and manufacturing electrolysis is a method of separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an Electric current Lithium oxide ( Li2[[Oxygen O]] or lithia is an Inorganic Chemical compound. Sir Humphry Davy 1st Baronet FRS MRIA (17 December 1778 &ndash 29 May 1829 was a British Chemist and inventor ^[3][5] Brande also described pure salts of lithium, such as the chloride, and performed an estimate of its atomic weight. In 1855, Robert Bunsen and Augustus Matthiessen produced large quantities of the metal by electrolysis of lithium chloride. Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (31 March 1811 &ndash 16 August 1899 was a German Chemist. Lithium chloride is a Chemical compound with the formula Li[[Chlorine Cl]] Commercial production of lithium metal began in 1923 by the German company Metallgesellschaft AG through the electrolysis of a molten mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Metallgesellschaft AG was formerly one of Germany 's largest industrial conglomerates based in Frankfurt. The Chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl is a Metal Halide salt composed of Potassium and Chlorine. ^[2][6]

Properties

Like other alkali metals, lithium has a single valence electron which it will readily lose to form a cation, indicated by the element's low electronegativity. Trends The alkali metals show a number of trends when moving down the group - for instance decreasing electronegativity increasing reactivity and decreasing melting and boiling In chemistry valence electrons are the Electrons contained in the outermost or valence, Electron shell of an Atom. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge " Electronegativity " is the opposite of " Electropositivity," which describes an element's ability to donate electrons As a result, lithium is easily deformed, highly reactive, and has lower melting and boiling points than most metals. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the Vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid These and many other properties attributable to alkali metals' weakly-held valence electron are most distinguished in lithium, as it possesses the smallest atomic radius and thus the highest electronegativity of the alkali group. Atomic radius, and more generally the size of an atom, is not a precisely defined Physical quantity, nor is it constant in all circumstances In addition, lithium has a diagonal relationship with magnesium, an element of similar atomic and ionic radius. A Diagonal Relationship is said to exist between certain pairs of diagonally adjacent elements in the second and third periods of the Periodic table. Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 The ionic radius, r ion is a measure of the size of an Ion in a Crystal lattice. Chemical resemblances between the two metals include the formation of a nitride in N₂, the formation of an oxide when burnt in O₂, salts with similar solubilities, and thermally-unstable carbonates and nitrides. In chemistry a nitride is a compound of Nitrogen with a less Electronegative element where nitrogen has an Oxidation state of -3 An oxide is a Chemical compound containing at least one Oxygen atom as well as at least one other element A salt, in Chemistry, is defined as the product formed from the neutralisation reaction of Acids and bases. Solubility is the characteristic Physical property referring to the ability of a given substance the Solute, to dissolve in a Solvent. In Chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or Ester of Carbonic acid. ^[7]

Lithium is soft enough to be cut with a knife, though this is more difficult than cutting sodium. The fresh metal has a silvery-white color which only remains untarnished in dry air. ^[7] Lithium has about half the density of water, giving solid sticks of lithium metal the odd heft of a light-to-medium wood like pine. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. The metal floats highly in hydrocarbons; in the laboratory, jars of lithium are typically composed of black-coated sticks held down in hydrocarbon mechanically by the jar's lid and other sticks. In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon.

Lithium is greatly heat-resistant, possessing a low coefficient of thermal expansion and the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element. When the Temperature of a substance changes the energy that is stored in the Intermolecular bonds between atoms changes Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity Lithium has also been found to be superconductive below 400 μK. Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring in certain Materials generally at very low Temperatures characterized by exactly zero electrical resistance Detailed list of temperatures from 100 K to 1000 K Most ordinary human activity takes place at temperatures of this order of magnitude This finding paves the way for further study of superconductivity, as lithium's atomic lattice is the simplest of all metals.

Chemistry

In moist air, lithium metal rapidly tarnishes to form a black coating of lithium hydroxide (LiOH and LiOH·H₂O), lithium nitride (Li₃N) and lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃, the result of a secondary reaction between LiOH and CO₂). Lithium hydroxide (LiOH is a corrosive Alkali hydroxide. It is a white Hygroscopic Crystalline material Lithium nitride is a compound of Lithium and Nitrogen with the Formula Li3N Lithium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the formula Li2CO3 Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single ^[7]

When placed over a flame, lithium gives off a striking crimson color, but when it burns strongly, the flame becomes a brilliant white. Crimson is a strong bright deep Red color combined with some Blue, resulting in a tiny degree of Purple. Lithium will ignite and burn in oxygen when exposed to water or water vapours. It is the only metal that reacts with nitrogen at room temperature.

Lithium metal is flammable and potentially explosive when exposed to air and especially water, though it is far less dangerous than other alkali metals in this regard. The lithium-water reaction at normal temperatures is brisk but not violent. Lithium fires are difficult to extinguish, requiring special chemicals designed to smother them (see sodium for details). Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22

Isotopes

Main article: Isotopes of lithium

Naturally occurring lithium is composed of two stable isotopes ⁶Li and ⁷Li, the latter being the more abundant (92. Naturally occurring Lithium ( Li) (standard atomic mass 6941(2 u) is composed of two stable Isotopes ( and, the latter being the more abundant Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides 5% natural abundance). In Chemistry, natural abundance (NA refers to the abundance Isotopes of a Chemical element as naturally found on a planet ^[8] Seven radioisotopes have been characterized, the most stable being ⁸Li with a half-life of 838 ms and ⁹Li with a half-life of 178. A radionuclide is an Atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page A millisecond (from Milli- and Second; abbreviation ms is one thousandth of a Second. 3 ms. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are shorter than 8. Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. 6 ms. The shortest-lived isotope of lithium is ⁴Li which decays through proton emission and has a half-life of 7. Proton emission (also known as proton radioactivity is a type of radioactive decay in which a Proton is ejected from a nucleus. 58043x10^-23 s.

⁷Li is one of the primordial elements or, more properly, primordial isotopes, produced in Big Bang nucleosynthesis (a small amount of ⁶Li is also produced in stars). In Physical cosmology, Big Bang nucleosynthesis (or primordial nucleosynthesis) refers to the production of nuclei other than those of H-1 (i ^[9] Lithium isotopes fractionate substantially during a wide variety of natural processes, including mineral formation (chemical precipitation), metabolism, and ion exchange. Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. Ion exchange is an exchange of Ions between two Electrolytes or between an electrolyte Solution and a complex. Lithium ion substitutes for magnesium and iron in octahedral sites in clay minerals, where ⁶Li is preferred to ⁷Li, resulting in enrichment of the light isotope in processes of hyperfiltration and rock alteration. Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and The exotic ¹¹Li is known to exhibit a nuclear halo. In Nuclear physics, an atomic nucleus is called a halo nucleus or is said to have a nuclear halo if its radius is appreciably larger than that predicted by the

Natural occurrence

See also Lithium minerals.

Lithium is widely distributed on Earth and is the 33rd most abundant element;^[1] however, it does not naturally occur in elemental form due to its high reactivity. Estimates for crustal content range from 20 to 70 ppm by weight. In Geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon ^[7] In keeping with its name, lithium forms a minor part of igneous rocks, with the largest concentrations in granites. Igneous rocks (etymology from Latin ignis, fire are rocks formed by solidification of cooled Magma (molten rock Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. Granitic pegmatites also provide the greatest abundance of lithium-containing minerals, with spodumene and petalite being the most commercially-viable mineral sources for the element. Pegmatite is a very coarse-grained Igneous rock that has a grain size of 20 mm or more such rocks are referred to as pegmatitic. "Kunzite" redirects here For the Sailor Moon character see Shitennou. Petalite, also known as castorite is a Lithium Aluminium tectosilicate Mineral Li[[aluminum Al]] Si 4 ^[7]

Applications

Because of its specific heat capacity, the highest of all solids, lithium is often used in heat transfer applications. Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume.

It is an important ingredient in cathode materials, used in rechargeable and single-use batteries because of its high electrochemical potential, light weight, and high current density. A cathode is an Electrode through which (positive Electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device Lithium batteries are not to be confused with lithium-ion batteries which are high energy-density rechargeable batteries Lithium batteries are In Electrochemistry, the electrochemical potential, \bar{\mu} sometimes confusingly abbreviated to ECP is a Thermodynamic measure that combines the

Large quantities of lithium are also used in the manufacture of organolithium reagents, especially n-butyllithium which has many uses in fine chemical and polymer synthesis. An organolithium reagent is an Organometallic compound with a direct bond between a Carbon and a Lithium atom n -Butyllithium (abbreviated BuLi is the most prominent Organolithium reagent. A polymer is a large Molecule ( Macromolecule) composed of repeating Structural units typically connected by Covalent Chemical bonds

Medical use

Main article: Lithium pharmacology

Lithium salts were used during the 19th century to treat gout. Lithium in pharmacology refers to use of the Lithium Ion, Li+ as a drug Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of Uric acid. Lithium salts such as lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃), lithium citrate, and lithium orotate are mood stabilizers. Lithium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the formula Li2CO3 Lithium citrate (Li3C6H5O7 is a chemical compound of Lithium and Citrate that is used as a Mood stabilizer Lithium orotate, is a Lithium salt of Pyrimidinecarboxylic acid and Lithium. They are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since unlike most other mood altering drugs, they counteract both mania and depression. Mania (from Greek μανία and that from μαίνομαι - mainomai, "to rage to be furious" is a severe medical condition In the fields of Psychology and Psychiatry, the terms depression or depressed refer to both expected and pathologically chronic or severe Lithium can also be used to augment other antidepressant drugs. An antidepressant is a Psychiatric medication used for alleviating major depression or Dysthymia ('milder' depression It is also sometimes prescribed as a preventive treatment for migraine disease and cluster headaches. Migraine is a neurological Syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences painful headaches and nausea Cluster headache is a neurological disease that involves as its most prominent feature an immense degree of pain

The active principle in these salts is the lithium ion Li⁺, which having a smaller diameter, can easily displace K⁺ and Na⁺ and even Ca²⁺, in spite of its greater charge, occupying their sites in several critical neuronal enzymes and neurotransmitter receptors. Although Li⁺ cannot displace Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺, because of these ions small size and greater charge (higher charge density, hence stronger bonding), when Mg⁺² or Zn⁺² are present in low concentrations, and Li⁺ is present in high concentrations, the latter can occupy sites normally occupied by Mg⁺² or Zn⁺² in various enzymes. Therapeutically useful amounts of lithium (0. 6 to 1. 2 mmol/l) are only slightly lower than toxic amounts (>1. 5 mmol/l), so the blood levels of lithium must be carefully monitored during treatment to avoid toxicity. Therefore, in theory, coadministration of 400 IU vitamin D, 1 g magnesium citrate (not the insoluble oxide or carbonate), 15 mg Zn (as gluconate or piccolinate, not the insoluble oxide) and 1 pill of vitamin B complex a day, should potentiate the effect of Li, in some cases allowing for the reduction of the therapeutic range to 0. Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble Prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or Ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or The B vitamins are eight water-soluble Vitamins that play important roles in cell Metabolism. 5 to 0. 9 mmol/l, of the daily dose of lithium carbonate and of the risk of toxicity.

Common side effects include muscle tremors, twitching, ataxia, hyperparathyroidism (bone loss, hypercalcemia, hypertension, etc,), kidney damage, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (polyuria and polydipsia) and seizures. Tremor is an unintentional somewhat rhythmic muscle movement involving to-and-from movements (oscillations of one or more parts of the body Ataxia (from Greek α- as a negative prefix + -τάξις, meaning "lack of order" is a neurological sign and symptom consisting Hyperparathyroidism is overactivity of the Parathyroid glands resulting in excess production of Parathyroid hormone (PTH Hypercalcaemia (in American English '''Hypercalcemia''' is an elevated calcium level in the Blood. Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the Blood pressure is chronically elevated Diabetes insipidus ( DI) is a condition characterized by excretion of large amounts of severely diluted Urine, which cannot be reduced when fluid intake An epileptic seizure is caused by excessive and/or hypersynchronous electrical Neuronal activity and is usually self-limiting Many of the side-effects are a result caused by the increased elimination of potassium.

Pregnancy - teratogenic properties: Ebstein (cardiac) Anomaly - There appears to be an increased risk of this abnormality in infants of women taking lithium during the first trimester of pregnancy

Other uses

• Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are extremely hygroscopic and frequently used as desiccants. Lithium chloride is a Chemical compound with the formula Li[[Chlorine Cl]] Lithium bromide, or LiBr is a Chemical compound of Lithium and Bromine. Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract Water Molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or Adsorption A Desiccant is a Hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness ( Desiccation) in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container
• Lithium stearate is a common all-purpose high-temperature lubricant. Stearic acid (first syllable rhymes with either bear or gear) ( IUPAC Systematic name: octadecanoic acid) is a saturated A lubricant (sometimes referred to as a "Lube" is a substance (often a liquid introduced between two moving surfaces to reduce the Friction between them improving
• Lithium is an alloying agent used to synthesize organic compounds. An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has An organic compound is any member of a large class of Chemical compounds whose Molecules contain Carbon.
• Lithium is used as a flux to promote the fusing of metals during welding and soldering. In Metallurgy, a flux is a chemical cleaning agent which facilitates Soldering, Brazing, and Welding by removing Oxidation from Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials usually Metals or Thermoplastics by causing coalescence. Soldering is a process in which two or more Metal items are joined together by melting and flowing a filler metal into the joint the filler metal having a relatively low It also eliminates the forming of oxides during welding by absorbing impurities. This fusing quality is also important as a flux for producing ceramics, enamels, and glass. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) In a discussion of Material science, enamel (or vitreous enamel or porcelain enamel in U Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many
• Lithium is sometimes used in glasses and ceramics including the glass for the 200-inch (5. 08 m) telescope at Mt. Palomar. A telescope is an instrument designed for the observation of remote objects and the collection of Electromagnetic radiation. Palomar Observatory is a privately owned Observatory located in San Diego County California, 90 miles (145 Km) Southeast of Mount Wilson
• Alloys of the metal with aluminium, cadmium, copper and manganese are used to make high performance aircraft parts. An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has WikipediaNaming Cadmium (ˈkædmiəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Cd and Atomic number 48 Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn.
• Lithium-aluminium alloys are used in aerospace applications, such as the external tank of the Space Shuttle, and is planned for the Orion spacecraft. Al-Li alloys are a series of Alloys of Aluminium and Lithium, often also including Copper and Zirconium. This article is about the field of research and industry for the corporation see The Aerospace Corporation Aerospace comprises the A Space Shuttle External Tank ( ET) is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contains the Liquid hydrogen fuel and Liquid oxygen NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System ( STS) is the Spacecraft currently used by the United States Orion is a Spacecraft design currently under development by the United States space agency NASA.
• Lithium niobate is used extensively in telecommunication products, such as mobile phones and optical modulators, for such components as resonant crystals. Lithium niobate ( is a compound of Niobium, Lithium, and Oxygen. An optical modulator is a device in which a signal -controlled element is used to modulate a Beam of Light. Lithium products are currently used in more than 60 percent of mobile phones. ^[10]
• The high non-linearity of lithium niobate also makes a good choice for non-linear optics applications. Nonlinear optics (NLO is the branch of Optics that describes the behaviour of Light in nonlinear media, that is media in which the dielectric polarization
• Lithium deuteride was the fusion fuel of choice in early versions of the hydrogen bomb. Lithium hydride ( Li[[Hydride H]] is the compound of Lithium and hydrogen In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. When bombarded by neutrons, both ⁶Li and ⁷Li produce tritium—this reaction, which was not fully understood when hydrogen bombs were first tested, was responsible for the runaway yield of the Castle Bravo nuclear test. This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. Tritium (ˈtɹɪtiəm symbol or, also known as Hydrogen-3) is a radioactive Isotope of Hydrogen. Castle Bravo was the Code name given to the first US test of a so-called dry fuel thermonuclear Hydrogen bomb device detonated on March 1, Tritium fuses with deuterium in a fusion reaction that is relatively easy to achieve. Deuterium, also called heavy hydrogen, is a Stable isotope of Hydrogen with a Natural abundance in the Oceans of Earth In Physics and Nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple- like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus Although details remain secret, lithium-6 deuteride still apparently plays a role in modern nuclear weapons, as a fusion material. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.
• Metallic lithium and its complex hydrides such as e. Hydride is the name given to the negative Ion of Hydrogen, H− g. Li[AlH₄] are considered as high energy additives to rocket propellants^[3]. Rocket propellant is mass that is stored usually in some form of Propellant tank prior to being used as the propulsive mass that is ejected from a rocket engine in the form
• Lithium peroxide, lithium nitrate, lithium chlorate and lithium perchlorate are used and thought of as oxidizers in both rocket propellants and oxygen candles to supply submarines and space capsules with oxygen. Lithium peroxide ( Li2[[Oxygen O2]] is a Chemical compound. It decomposes above 195°C to give Lithium oxide, Li2O Lithium nitrate is an Inorganic compound with the formula LiNO3 Lithium perchlorate is the Chemical compound with the formula LiClO4 A chemical oxygen generator is a device that releases Oxygen created by a Chemical reaction. ^[11]
• Lithium will be used to produce tritium in magnetically confined nuclear fusion reactors using deuterium and tritium as the fuel. Tritium does not occur naturally and will be produced by surrounding the reacting plasma with a 'blanket' containing lithium where neutrons from the deuterium-tritium reaction in the plasma will react with the lithium to produce more tritium. ⁶Li + n → ⁴He + ³H. Various means of doing this will be tested at the ITER reactor being built at Cadarache, France. ITER is an international Tokamak ( Magnetic confinement fusion) research/engineering proposal for an experimental project that will help to make the transition from
• Lithium is used as a source for alpha particles, or helium nuclei. Alpha particles (named after and denoted by the first letter in the Greek alphabet, α consist of two Protons and two Neutrons bound together into a Helium ( He) is a colorless odorless tasteless non-toxic Inert Monatomic Chemical When ⁷Li is bombarded by accelerated protons, ⁸Be is formed, which undergoes spontaneous fission to form two alpha particles. The proton ( Greek πρῶτον / proton "first" is a Subatomic particle with an Electric charge of one positive Beryllium (bəˈrɪliəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Be and Atomic number 4 This was the first man-made nuclear reaction, produced by Cockroft and Walton in 1929. In Nuclear physics, a nuclear reaction is the process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide to produce products different from the initial particles Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is an important compound of lithium obtained from lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃). Lithium hydroxide (LiOH is a corrosive Alkali hydroxide. It is a white Hygroscopic Crystalline material It is a strong base, and when heated with a fat, it produces a lithium soap. Lithium soap has the ability to thicken oils and so is used commercially to manufacture lubricating greases.
• It is also an efficient and lightweight purifier of air. In confined areas, such as aboard spacecraft and submarines, the concentration of carbon dioxide can approach unhealthy or toxic levels. A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability Lithium hydroxide absorbs the carbon dioxide from the air by reacting with it to form lithium carbonate. Any alkali hydroxide will absorb CO₂, but lithium hydroxide is preferred, especially in spacecraft applications, because of the low formula weight conferred by the lithium. Even better materials for this purpose include lithium peroxide (Li₂O₂) that, in presence of moisture, not only absorb carbon dioxide to form lithium carbonate, but also release oxygen. E. g. 2 Li₂O₂ + 2 CO₂ → 2 Li₂CO₃ + O₂.
• Lithium metal is used as a reducing agent in some types of methamphetamine production, particularly in illegal amateur “meth labs. A reducing agent (also called a reductant or reducer) is the element or a compound in a Redox (reduction-oxidation reaction (see Electrochemistry ”
• Lithium can be used to make red fireworks
• A Bose-Einstein Condensate of Lithium was achieved in 1995. A Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC is a State of matter of Bosons confined in an external Potential and cooled to Temperatures very near to

Production

Since the end of World War II, lithium metal production has greatly increased. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The metal is separated from other elements in igneous mineral such as those above, and is also extracted from the water of mineral springs. In many places mineral water is often colloquially used to mean Carbonated water (which is usually carbonated mineral water as opposed to tap water

The metal is produced electrolytically from a mixture of fused lithium and potassium chloride. In chemistry and manufacturing electrolysis is a method of separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an Electric current The Chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl is a Metal Halide salt composed of Potassium and Chlorine. In 1998 it was about US$ 43 per pound ($95 per kg). Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass ^[12]

Chile is currently the leading lithium metal producer in the world, with Argentina next. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Both countries recover the lithium from brine pools. In the United States lithium is similarly recovered from brine pools in Nevada. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. ^[13]

China may emerge as a significant producer of brine-based lithium carbonate around 2010. Potential capacity of up to 45,000 tonnes per year could come on-stream if projects in Qinghai province and Tibet proceed.

Precautions

Lithium metal, due to its alkaline tarnish, is corrosive and requires special handling to avoid skin contact. Breathing lithium dust or lithium compounds (which are often alkaline) can irritate the nose and throat; higher exposure to lithium can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, leading to pulmonary edema. Pulmonary Edema (American English or oedema (British English is swelling and/or fluid accumulation in the Lungs It leads to impaired gas exchange and may cause The metal itself is usually a handling hazard because of the caustic hydroxide produced when it is in contact with moisture. Lithium should be stored in a non-reactive compound such as naphtha or a hydrocarbon. Naphtha normally refers to a number of different flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons i

Regulation

Some jurisdictions limit the sale of lithium batteries, which are the most readily available source of lithium metal for ordinary consumers. Lithium batteries are not to be confused with lithium-ion batteries which are high energy-density rechargeable batteries Lithium batteries are Lithium can be used to reduce pseudoephedrine and ephedrine to methamphetamine in the Birch reduction method, which employs solutions of alkali metals dissolved in anhydrous ammonia. The Birch reduction is the Organic reduction of aromatic rings with Sodium and an Alcohol in liquid Ammonia to form 14-cyclohexadienes However, the effectiveness of such restrictions in controlling illegal production of methamphetamine remains indeterminate and controversial.

Carriage and shipment of some kinds of lithium batteries may be prohibited aboard certain types of transportation (particularly aircraft), because of the ability of most types of lithium batteries to fully discharge very rapidly when short-circuited, leading to overheating and possible explosion. Short Circuit is a 1986 comedy Science fiction film starring Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg and directed by An explosion is a sudden increase in Volume and release of Energy in an extreme manner usually with the generation of high Temperatures and the release However, most consumer lithium batteries have thermal overload protection built-in to prevent this type of incident, or their design inherently limits short-circuit currents.

References

See also

• Lithium compounds

External links

• USGS: Lithium Statistics and Information
• WebElements.com – Lithium
• It's Elemental – Lithium
• Information on Lithium and Bipolar Disorder
• University of Southampton, Mountbatten Centre for International Studies, Nuclear History Working Paper No5.

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