What is Lithium?

About Lithium:

• It is a chemical element with the symbol Liand atomic number 3. 
• Classified as an alkali metal,lithium is a solid at room temperature.
• It is the lightest of the solid elements.
• It is soft, white, and lustrous.
• It reacts vigorously with water.
• It has a body-centered cubic crystal structure.
• Occurrence:
  • Lithium constitutes about 002 percent of Earth’s crust.
  • Being highly reactive, it does not occur as the metal in nature, but is found combined in small amounts in nearly all igneous rocks and in the waters of many mineral springs.
  • Spodumene, petalite, lepidolite, and amblygonite are the more important minerals containing lithium.
• Major Reserves:Lithium reserves are concentrated in the lithium triangle in South America–Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, with 50% of the deposits concentrated in these regions. 
• Production: In 2023, Australia was the world leader in terms of lithium mine production, with Chile and China ranked second and third.
• Uses:
  • The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and electric vehicles.
  • Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.
  • Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. 
    • A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating.
    • Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.
  • Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics.
  • Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide). 
  • Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.
  • Lithium carbonate is used in drugs to treat manic depression.