Lithium

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Lithium
Group: 1
Atomic Number: 3
Relative Mass: 6.9
Melting Point: 180c

Lithium was discovered from a mineral by Johan August Arfvedson in 1817. It's a shame that I couldn't write this chemistry blog post so it would come out for the 12th - as that was the birthday of Johan Arfvedson. You can read more about Johan Arfvedson on my pervious blog post - On this Day. But, Lithium is such a very interesting element. It has a wide amount of uses and interesting history. Lithium's name comes from another Greek word - lithos which means stone. This is an ironic name in my opinion as Lithium is a soft sliver metal that is the lightest metal and solid element. Not the tough and robust rocky material that I'm pretty much certain that stone brings to mind. But, the name does have it's reasons. It comes from where the element was found which was from a mineral known as petalite. Whereas the other metals from its group - the alkalis metals, were found in plants.

Lithium is a part of the group, the alkalis metals. This group is the first column of the periodic time which contains other elements such as Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and Francium (Fr). All of these elements share similar characteristics such as; being shiny, soft and highly reactive when at standard conditions (Standard conditions means temperature is at 0 degrees Celsius and the pressure is 780mmHg - or 14.7 pounds per inch). These elements are so soft that they can be cut by a knife. In addition, due to it's reactivity, alkalis metals including Lithium must be kept in oil to avoid reactions with the air.

But, don't drop them in water... They react vigorously!

There is a nice YouTube video which shows this - Reaction of Lithium with Water

The Very Pretty Petalite
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
In the 1790's, the first Lithium mineral petalite (LiAlSi4O10) was discovered on the Swedish Island by a Brazilian scientist named Jozé Bonifácio de Andralda e Silvia. It burned with an intense crimson flame when observed by scientists. Though it wasn't until 1817 that Johan Arfvedson analysed the material. He found there was an unknown element inside. A metal which was lighter than Sodium but Johan couldn't separate the metal by a process called electrolysis. Electrolysis separates elements from ores by the use of electricity.
It wasn't until 1855 that two scientists, Robert Bunsen and Augustus Matthiessen, managed to obtain a large bulk by this process.

Due to Lithium's instability, it is really uncommon in the solar system. 25 of the other first 32 chemicals are more commonplace than Lithium.

Lithium has a variety of uses;
  • It is used as a rechargeable batteries within phones, laptops and electric vehicles.
    A Lithium Phone Battery
    (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
  • It is also used as batteries for pacemakers. But, you can't charge these.
  • It is made into alloy wheels along with Aluminium and Magnesium. The mix of these metals make alloy wheels stronger but lighter.
  • Magnesium-lithium alloy is used for Armour plating
  • Aluminium-Lithium alloy is used in planes and high speed trains
  • It is used as a drug to treat depression - Lithium-Carbonate. This tablet affects how sodium flows through nerves. It can't be taken whilst pregnant as it will harm a foetus.  

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