Lithium

In 1800, José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, a Brazilian chemist, discovered the mineral petalite in a mine in Sweden. But it wasn’t until 1817 that Johan August Arfwedson realized that petalite contained a new element. Working in the lab of the famous chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Arfwedson figured out that this new element had properties similar to sodium and potassium, but it was different in important ways, like how its compounds didn’t dissolve as easily in water. Berzelius named the element lithium, from the Greek word lithos, meaning "stone," because it was discovered in a solid mineral rather than from plants or animals.

At first, scientists couldn’t isolate pure lithium, even though they knew it was there. In 1821, William Thomas Brande managed to separate lithium using electrolysis, a method that relies on electricity to breakdown a compound. Brande’s discovery opened the door to learning more about lithium, but it would still take years before it could be produced in large amounts. In 1855, Robert Bunsen and Augustus Matthiessen found a better way to produce more lithium through electrolysis, which helped make lithium more accessible for industrial use.

Lithium’s first major use came during World War II when it was used in high-temperature greases for aircraft engines. Lithium-based greases have a high melting point and are less corrosive than other types. Demand for lithium skyrocketed during the Cold War, as it became crucial for producing nuclear weapons.

Lithium’s importance surged again in the 1990s when scientists developed lithium-ion batteries. These batteries revolutionized technology, powering everything from smartphones to electric cars. Today, lithium is more important than ever, as the world moves toward advanced, next-generation energy and battery-powered technologies.

Even though it is a metal, and looks silvery and shiny like a metal, lithium is soft enough to be cut with a knife and light enough to float in water!

Lithium is the lightest of all metals, with a density only about half that of water. At standard conditions, it is the lowest-density metal and the lowest-density solid element altogether. Like other alkali metals, it is highly reactive and therefore must be stored in vacuum or submerged in a non-oxygen-containing fluid, such as mineral oil. It reacts strongly with water, although not as violently as sodium does. And it adds a beautiful crimson color to a flame. Its red flame was observed in the lithium-containing mineral petalite and in lithium salts before lithium was ever isolated as an element.

Lithium's main use is in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, because of its high electrochemical potential. Lithium-ion batteries power electric cars, laptops, phones, and other mobile tech. The demand for lithium has greatly increased with the proliferation of these devices.

Lithium is also useful in nuclear fusion technology and for making special heat-resistant glass and glass ceramics. It continues to be used in high-temperature lubricating greases. Because it is extremely lightweight, lithium metal can be used to make lightweight alloys. Aluminum-lithium alloys, for example, are used in aircraft, bicycle frames, and high-speed trains.

In addition, lithium carbonate is a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat bipolar disorder, manic depression, and similar conditions. 

Small amounts of lithium are found in nearly all igneous rocks and in many mineral springs. Lepidolite, spodumene, petalite, and amblygonite are the more important minerals containing it. In the past, lithium was mined from such mineral ores. But today, lithium is obtained from extreme salty water (brine) and salt flats. The salt, which contains some lithium chloride, is obtained by solar evaporation. Then the lithium is extracted through electrolysis. Much lithium is produced from the expansive salt flats in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. These countries have been called the “lithium triangle,” with approximately 75 percent of the world’s lithium reserves. In the United States, lithium is produced from salt deposits in Nevada.