| LITHIUM | 3Li |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Silvery, but rapidly tarnishes to form a black oxide. It is usually stored under paraffin oil for that reason. |
| Discovery | 1817 by Arfvedson. A reactive metal, it required electrolytic extraction.. SPECIAL NOTE: The Italian, Alessandro Volta invented the electrochemical cell (voltaic pile) in 1800. The birth of electrical batteries and electrolytic extraction of reactive metals. |
| Electronic Configuration | simple: 2.1 and ADVANCED: 1s2 2s1 |
| Isotopes | 6Li makes up 7.5% and 7Li makes up 92.5% |
| Source | Lithium does not occur free in nature. It is found combined in small amounts in most igneous rocks and in many mineral springs. Lepidolite, spodumene, petalite and amblygonite are the most important minerals where we find lithium. Large deposits of spodumene are covered from the salt waters of lakes in California and Nevada and from solid deposits in North Carolina. Lithium is mostly produced by the electrolysis of fused chlorides. |
| Common uses | Lithium has a high specific heat capacity of any solid element. His value is 3.5 J/(gK). For this reason it has many applications in heat transfer devices. As it is extremely corrosive it does require special handling. It is found in organic synthesis reactions, in the preparation of alloys and in nuclear applications. At the bottom of the electrochemical series it has extremely high oxidation potential. This, together with its very low density, helps to explain its use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries - used mobile phones, electric cars etc. A lithium salt, called lithium stearate, is used as an all-purpose and high temperature lubricant. |
| Test | In the flame test, lithium and lithium salts, impart a crimson red colour to the Flame. |
| Melting point in Kelvin | 600.65 |
| Boiling point in Kelvin | 2013 |
| Density in kg/m3 | 11350 at 293K |
| Oxidation States | +1 and -1 |
| IE1 in kJmol-1 | 513.3 |
| IE2 in kJmol-1 | 7298.0 |
| IE3 in kJmol-1 | 11814.8 |
| EA1 in kJmol-1 | 57 |
| Enthalpy of Fusion in kJmol-1 | 4.60 |
| Enthalpy of Vaporisation in kJmol-1 | 147.7 |