Lithium- Element properties, occurrence, applications and fa

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bejoy
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Lithium- Element properties, occurrence, applications and fa

Post by bejoy »

Lithium is a soft, alkali metal with silvery-white appearance. It has atomic number 3 and is of group 1 of block s. Lithium got its name from Greek word “Lithosâ€, meaning stone. Lithium is symbolised as Li. Lithium is the first member of alkali metal family.

Properties:

Physical:

Lithium is a soft and silvery element.

Melting point of lithium: 180.54 degree Celsius and Boiling point: 1335 degree Celsius.

Lithium has low density of 0.534gm per cubic centimetre.

Lithium has hardness of 0.6 on Mohs scale, this shows that the metal can be scratched from fingernails.

Chemical:

Lithium is a flammable and highly reactive element.

Lithium at room temperatures reacts slowly with water but at higher temperatures it reacts rapidly.

Lithium is less soluble in hot water but more in cold water.

Lithium reacts with the moisture present in the air.

Occurrence of Lithium in the environment:

Lithium does not occur in nature freely because of its reactivity. It is slightly an abundant compound and has composition of 65 parts per million (ppm) on earth’s crust. Lithium is absorbed by plants and its composition in plants can sometimes reach around 30ppm. In terrestrial bodies it has composition of around 0.1 ppm. Lithium is also present in deposits of brine and in minerals as salt. The major commercial form of lithium is lithium carbonate.

Applications of Lithium:

Glass and ceramics: Lithium oxide is extensively used for processing silica as flux, for reducing the material melting point and viscosity. 32% of lithium produced is used for ceramics and glasses.

Electronics: Lithium became an important part of batteries because of having high electrode potential late in the 20th century.35% of lithium is used in batteries.

Grease lubrication: Lithium used in greases utilizes 9% of the lithium produced.

Metallurgy and nano-welding of silicon: For perfection of silicon nano-welds lithium has been considered perfect. Lithium as lithium carbonate is used in continuous casting as an additive to increase fluidity. 5% of lithium is used in this.

Lithium is also used in iron casting as an additive to foundry sand to reduce veining. Lithium as lithium fluoride is used as aluminium smelters additive for reducing melting temperature and increasing electrical resistance. This use accounts for 3% of production.

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Bejoy
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www.worldofchemicals.com
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ChenBeier
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Post by ChenBeier »

Not to forget that Lithium6-deuteride LiD the component is to built hydrogen bombs.
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