Lithium

Lithium (from Ancient Greek: λίθος, líthos, 'stone') is a chemical element; it has symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.

Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is very reactive and can catch fire, so it must be kept safe in a vacuum, special air, or special liquid such as purified kerosene or mineral oil.

Lithium is not found freely in nature, but it is found in certain minerals, which used to be the main way to get lithium. Because it can dissolve, it is also found in ocean water and is often taken from brines. Lithium metal is made electrolytically from a mix of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

Lithium and its compounds are used in many ways, such as in heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease for machines, and in making iron, steel, and aluminium stronger. It is also used in lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Batteries are the biggest use for lithium. Lithium is also used in medicine; lithium-based medicines can help people with certain mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder.

Properties

The alkali metals are a group of elements, and lithium is the first one in this family. Like other alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, lithium has one outer electron that it can easily share. This makes it a good conductor of heat and electricity. Lithium is very reactive, but it is less reactive than other alkali metals because its outer electron is closer to its center.

Lithium metal is soft and silvery-white. It is so soft that it can be cut with a knife. It is very light—it has the lowest density of all metals. This means it can float on water or very light oils. Lithium changes when exposed to air, turning into lithium oxide. It melts at a temperature of 180.50 °C and boils at a very high temperature of 1,342 °C, higher than any other alkali metal.

Lithium comes in two main forms found in nature, called isotopes: ⁶Li and ⁷Li. The latter is more common, making up about 95% of natural lithium. These isotopes behave differently in natural processes. Scientists can separate these isotopes using special methods like laser technology.

Occurrence

Lithium-7 was created in the early moments of the universe in a process called Big Bang nucleosynthesis. It forms in small amounts compared to hydrogen and helium. Lithium can also be found in stars and brown dwarf objects. In cooler stars, lithium remains, but in hotter stars, it gets used up.

Lithium is found in small amounts in Earth's crust, water, and some minerals. It is most common in certain types of rocks like granites and in minerals such as spodumene and petalite. Chile has the largest known reserves of lithium, and Australia produces the most each year. Lithium is also present in very tiny amounts in plants, animals, and human bodies, though its role in living things is still being studied.

History

Lithium was first found in 1800 by a chemist in Brazil. It was hidden inside a mineral called petalite from Sweden. In 1817, another scientist found this new element and named it lithium. The name means “stone” in ancient Greek because it came from a rocky ore.

Later, scientists learned that lithium could change the color of fire to bright red. They also found ways to separate it into a pure metal. In the 1940s and 1950s, doctors discovered that lithium could help people who were feeling very sad or excited, making them feel better. Today, lithium is very important for batteries in things like phones and cars.

Chemistry

Main page: Category:Lithium compounds

Main article: Organolithium reagent

Lithium is a soft, silvery-white metal. It reacts with water to make hydrogen gas and lithium hydroxide. When heated, lithium can create a red flame and may catch fire when it touches water or air. To stay safe, lithium is kept in special sealant like petroleum jelly.

Lithium mixes with other elements to make useful compounds. One important compound is lithium carbonate. It comes from lithium ores and helps make batteries and ceramics. Lithium also makes special chemicals called organolithium compounds. These are used to make medicines and other products in labs. They are very reactive and can catch fire easily, so they need careful handling.

Production

See also: List of countries by lithium production

Lithium production has grown a lot since the end of World War II. The main sources of lithium are salty water called brines and minerals from the earth.

Lithium metal is made through electrolysis of a mix of lithium chloride and potassium chloride at high temperatures.

Lithium is very important for batteries used in clean energy. This means we need a lot of it. The small size of lithium atoms makes it hard to find in rocks, but it can be found in water under the ground. The US Geological Survey measured the amount of lithium available in the world in 2022 and 2023.

The top lithium-producing countries in 2019 were Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina. The Lithium Triangle, which includes Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, has a lot of lithium. In the United States, lithium is found in places like Nevada and California.

In 2021, much of the world’s lithium came from either spodumene, a mineral found in rocks, or from salty brine pumped from the ground in places like Chile, Argentina, and Arkansas. In Chile’s Salar de Atacama, lithium is made stronger by letting water evaporate in the sun. New ways to get lithium faster are being created to save land and water.

The making of lithium can hurt the environment if not done carefully. It can pollute water, change the land, and affect animals. In some places, getting lithium has caused problems between people over water use and other issues.

Applications

Lithium is a very useful metal with many important uses. Most lithium is used to make lithium-ion batteries for electric cars and mobile devices. Lithium is great for batteries because it is very light and can carry a lot of power. Lithium-ion batteries can provide power better than older types of batteries.

Lithium is also used to make special glass and ceramics. Adding lithium to glass makes it easier to melt and gives it useful properties. Lithium is used in oils to help them stay smooth even at high temperatures. It is also important in making metals stronger and lighter for airplane parts. In fireworks, lithium gives a red color. Lithium can help clean the air in spaceships and submarines by removing carbon dioxide. It is also used in some camera lenses and parts of mobile phones. In medicine, lithium helps treat certain mood disorders, though it must be used carefully.

Precautions

Lithium metal can be harmful and must be handled with care to avoid touching the skin. Breathing in lithium dust or compounds can irritate the nose and throat. In larger amounts, it may cause problems in the lungs. The metal can be very dangerous if it touches water, creating lithium hydroxide, a caustic substance. To keep it safe, lithium metal is stored in materials like naphtha that won’t react with it.