LITHIUM

1) History [1]
The first lithium mineral petalite, LiAlSi4O10, was discovered on the Swedish
island of Utö by the Brazilian, Jozé Bonifácio de Andralda e Silva in the 1790s. It
was observed to give an intense crimson flame when thrown onto a fire. In 1817,
Johan August Arfvedson of Stockholm analysed it and deduced it contained a
previously unknown metal, which he called lithium. He realised this was a new
alkali metal and a lighter version of sodium. However, unlike sodium he was not
able to separate it by electrolysis. In 1821 William Brande obtained a tiny amount
this way but not enough on which to make measurements. It was not until 1855
that the German chemist Robert Bunsen and the British chemist Augustus
Matthiessen obtained it in bulk by the electrolysis of molten lithium chloride.

2) Isotopes [2]
Naturally occurring lithium is composed of 2 stable isotopes Li-6 and Li-7 with Li-
7 being the most abundant (92.5% natural abundance). Six radioisotopes have been
characterized with the most stable being Li-8 with a half-life of 838 ms and Li-9
with a half-life of 178.3 ms. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-
lifes that are less than 8.5 ms or are not known.

The isotopes of lithium range in atomic weight from 4.027 amu (Li-4) to 11.0438
amu (Li-11). The primary decay mode before the most abundant stable isotope, Li-
7, is proton emission (with one case of alpha decay) and the primary mode after is
beta emission (with some neutron emission). The primary decay products before
Li-7 are element 2 (helium) isotopes and the primary products after are element 4
(beryllium) isotopes.

Lithium-7 is one of the primordial elements (produced in big bang

nucleosynthesis). Lithium isotopes fractionate substantially during a wide variety
of natural processes, including mineral formation (chemical precipitation),
metabolism, ion exchange (Li substitutes for magnesium and iron in octahedral
sites in clay minerals, where Li-6 is preferential over Li-7), hyperfiltration, and
rock alteration.
3) Lithium (Li) [1] [3]
Chemical element of the alkali metal group (Group 1 [IA]) of the periodic table.
Electron configuration 1s2 2s1

Atomic number (Z) is 3

Block is s

electronegativity of lithium is 0.98

Atomic radius , non-bonded (A) is 1.82

1st 2nd 3rd

Ionisation 520.22 7298.15 11815.044
energies
(KJmol-1)

4) Physical Properties [3]

 Although it is a metal, it is soft enough to cut with a knife.

 It is so light it can float on water.
 Lithium fires are difficult to put out. You can't use water as water will react
with the lithium and could make the fire worse. A powder fire extinguisher is
needed.
 Along with hydrogen and helium, lithium was one of the three elements
produced in large quantities by the Big Bang.
 When burning, lithium gives off a bright red flame.
5) Chemical Properties [3]

In many of its properties, lithium exhibits the same characteristics as do the more
common alkali metals sodium and potassium. Thus, lithium, which floats on water,
is highly reactive with it and forms strong hydroxide solutions, yielding lithium
hydroxide (LiOH) and hydrogen gas. Lithium is the only alkali metal that does not
form the anion, Li−, in solution or in the solid state.
Generally, elemental sodium is more reactive than lithium, and it reacts with water
to form a strong base, sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Its chemistry is well explored
Lithium has very strong reducing properties.

a. Reacton nonmetals

Example: 4Li + O2 → 2Li2O

2Li + Cl2 → 2LiCl

- When burning in air or in oxygen, lithium burns to form oxides (common oxide,
peroxide and superoxide) and gives the flame a distinctive red color.

b. Reaction with acid

- Lithium easily removes H + (or H3O +) ions in dilute acid solution (HCl, dilute
H2SO4 ...) into free hydrogen.

Example: 2Li + 2HCl → 2LiCl + H2.

2Li + H2SO4 → Li2SO4 + H2.

c. Reaction with water

- Li acts slowly with water to form an alkaline solution and releases hydrogen gas.

2Li + 2H2O → 2LiOH + H2.

d. Reaction with hydrogen

- Lithium works with hydrogen at quite high pressure and the temperature is about
350-400oC forming Lithium hydride.
 2Li (liquid) + H2 (gas) → 2LiH (solid)
6)
Application [3]
The main lithium compound is the lithium hydroxide. It’s a white powder; the
manufactured material is monohydrate lithium hydroxide. The carbonate can be
used in the pottery industry and in medicine as an antidepressant. The bromine and
the lithium chloride both form concentrated brine, which have the property of
absorbing the humidity in a wide interval of temperature; these brines are used in
the manufactured air conditioning systems.
The main industrial use of lithium is in lithium stearatum form, as lubricant
grease’s thickener. Other important applications of lithium compounds are in
pottery, specifically in porcelain glaze; as an additive to extend the life and
performance of alkaline storage batteries and in autogenous welding and brass
welding.
Alloys of the metal with aluminium, cadmium, copper, and manganese are used to
make high performance aircraft parts.
Lithium compounds are used as colorants and oxidants in fireworks and flares

7) Modulation [3]
Lithium is prepared by electrolysis of molten chlorides and potassium.

Electrolysis equation: 2LiCl → 2Li + Cl2

http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/3/lithium [1]
https://www.worldofmolecules.com/elements/lithium.htm [2]
https://www.britannica.com/science/lithium-chemical-element [3]