Lithium By : Monika Clark

Periodic Table Information Name – Lithium Atomic Symbol – Li Atomic Number – 3 Atomic Mass – Group # - 1 Period # - 2

Physical Properties Color : Silvery-white/ Grey State of Matter (at room temperature) : Solid Malleable Ductile Conductor of electricity and heat Melting Point : 375 degrees Fahrenheit Boiling Point : 2,457 degrees Fahrenheit Density : grams per cubic centimeter Soft

Chemical Properties Reacts quickly with water and air Corrosive Radioactive

Uses Rechargeable Batteries High performance aircraft parts Coolant in nuclear breeder reactors Mood-stabilizing drugs (when mixed with Carbonate) Desiccants (when mixed Chloride and Bromide) All purpose and high – temperature lubricant (when mixed with stearate)

History Lithium was discovered by Johan Arfvedson in Stockholm, Sweden, in He discovered lithium during a routine chemical investigation of some minerals from a mine. The origin of the word Lithium is Greek. The Greek word lithos means “stone.”

Allotropes, Isotopes, or Important Compounds Lithium hydroxide is an important compound.  It is obtained from carbonate and is a strong base. It dissolves in water to produce a high concentration of hydroxide (OH) ions. Lithium-6 and lithium-7 are isotopes.

Other Interesting Facts Lithium is the only alkali metal that reacts with nitrogen. Humphrey Davy created some of the first lithium metal from lithium carbonate that is used to inhibit the manic phase of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. Lithium batteries have high energy density and are located in computers and cell phones. Lithium is believed to be one of the three elements produced in large quantities by the Big Bang.  The other elements are hydrogen and helium.