Search
lithium [Li]
From the Greek lithos meaning stone. Discovered in 1817 by J August Arfvedson in Stockholm. First isolated in 1821 by Willian T Brande.
Occurrence:
-> igneous rocks & many mineral spring waters
Characteristics:
1) soft silver-white element of the alkali metal group
2) the lightest metal known
3) easily cut
4) reacts slowly with water to form H2 & LiOH
5) reacts vigorously with all halogens to from halides
Uses:
1) nuclear reactions &
2) metallurgy
3) battery anodes
4) as an alloy with aluminum & magnesium for lightweight, high-performance metals for aircraft
Laboratory:
- lithium in hair
- lithium in tissue
- lithium in erythrocytes
- lithium in body fluid
- lithium in gastric fluid
- lithium in saliva
- Li+ in blood
- Li+ in serum/plasma
- Li+ in urine
Related
Li+
periodic table
pharmaceutical lithium
General
alkali metal
Properties
SIZE: AW = 6.941
atomic number
VALUE: 3
VALENCE: HE 2S1
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003