Metals in Detail (Part 1)

 Hi everyone, I am back with metals in detail part 1. Don't worry we will have a interesting posts on various topics between each part. Now, Let's start. 

 1 ) Lithium

Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under experimental condition it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil. 

When cut, it exhibits a metallic luster, but moist air corrodes(corrosion) it quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish. It never occurs freely in nature, but only in  compounds, such as pegmatitic minerals, which were once the main source of lithium. Due to its solubility as an iron, it is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines( Brine is a high-concentration solution of salt )

Lithium has a single valence electron. Lithium metal is soft enough to be cut with a knife. When cut, it possesses a silvery-white color that quickly changes to gray as it oxidizes to lithium oxide. While it has one of the lowest melting points among all metals (180 °C, 453 K), it has the highest melting and boiling points of the alkali metals.

Application of Lithium metal

Estimates of global lithium uses in 2019 

  Ceramics and glass (18%)

  Batteries (65%)

  Lubricating greases (5%)

  Continuous casting (3%)

  Air treatment (1%)

  Polymers(3%)

  Primary aluminum production(2%)

  Pharmaceuticals(2%)

  Other (5%)

Hope you liked it and had a good analyzation. Until then,

Signing of 

with love and passion for science,

Devmitra.V