3 LITHIUM - Li

  • Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group on the far left of the periodic table, all of which tend to lose one outer electron resulting in the formation of a positive ion. Lithium is a highly reactive metal that is used in the production of rechargeable batteries, particularly for use in electric vehicles. It is also used in some medications for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

    1. Physical properties: Lithium is a soft metal that can be easily cut with a knife. It has a low density, a melting point of 180.5°C, and a boiling point of 1,342°C. Lithium is highly reactive and reacts with water to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Lithium is the lightest metal and has the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element.

    2. Chemical properties: Lithium is a highly reactive metal and readily forms compounds with other elements. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity and has a high electrochemical potential, which makes it useful in batteries. Lithium reacts with oxygen to form lithium oxide and with nitrogen to form lithium nitride.

    3. Isotopes: Lithium has two stable isotopes

      1. lithium-6

      2. lithium-7: more abundant, used in nuclear fusion research and as a tracer in medical imaging.

    4. Occurrence: Lithium is a relatively rare element and is found in small amounts in the Earth's crust. It is typically extracted from brine pools, salt flats, and pegmatite ores.

    5. Uses: Lithium has many practical applications, including in rechargeable batteries for electronic devices and electric vehicles, in ceramics and glass manufacturing, and as a medication for bipolar disorder.

  • Its high energy density and light weight make it an essential component of modern rechargeable batteries, and its use in medical applications continues to be an area of active research.

Other Alkali Metals - At room temper they are shiny and so soft they can be easily cut with a knife. They are stored under oil because they are so highly reactive. Freshly cut surfaces tarnish rapidly due to interaction with oxygen in the air. They are never found as native elements, only bonded to other elements to form salts.