O Lithium is a chemical symbol element read, atomic number 3 and atomic mass 7 u, has in its structure three protons and three electrons. In the periodic table of chemical elements, it belongs to the 1A family and is among the alkaline elements.
Lithium nomenclature comes from the Greek lithos = stone, this name is because at the time it was discovered, it was only found in stones. In its pure form, it is a soft, silvery-white metal that oxidizes quickly in air or water. Lithium differs from other members of the Periodic Table in that it is the lightest metal of all.
Lithium is not found in abundance in the earth's crust, on the contrary, it is a scarce and dispersed metal in certain rocks. It can also be found in natural salts, salt water and mineral water. In nature, Lithium is present in the form of two isotopes: Li7 (92.5%) and Li6 (7,5%).
Lithium Applications
Lithium is indicated for obtaining metallic alloys and for making ceramics. But of the uses of Lithium, the ones that deserve to be highlighted are those related to medicine. In pacemakers, for example, lithium batteries are used in the device, which allows cardiac patients to have a beating heart. And it doesn't stop there, a new discovery may add even more value to this alkali metal, as it can be used to treat type 1 bipolar disorder.
Element Discovery
Lithium was discovered in 1817 by John August Arfwedson (Swedish), but it was in the midst of other substances. The alkali metal was only isolated for the first time in 1855, by the German Robert Wilhem Bunsen.
The process used to isolate Lithium consists of the electrolysis of lithium chloride, this method was used in the first synthesis of the metal and is still used today.
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry
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