Facts about the element lithium

Hungry for facts about the element lithium? It is even more fascinating than you may suspect. Get the facts now.

lithium chloride

A picture is worth a thousand words . . .

This excellent short video from the wonderful world of YouTube is titled Lithium 101: About Lithium the metal & bipolar disorder...

It runs for 7 minutes, 44 seconds. (Please note: you may need to click "Play" a couple of times.) Enjoy!

History of lithium

Lithium was first used in 2nd century AD by the ancient physician Soranus of Ephesus, who discovered the alkaline waters his town could be used as a treatment for both mania and depression. It turns out these waters have very high levels of lithium.

However, Soranus was not aware of lithium specifically and did not isolate the element. Johan August Arfvedson, a Swedish chemist, discovered lithium in ore from a Swedish iron mine in 1817. William Thomas Brande and Sir Humphry Davy used electrolysis on lithium oxide to isolate the element in 1818.

However, it was the Australian doctor, John Cade, who first discovered the role of lithium in controlling bipolar disorder. Click here for a detailed review of everyone involved in discovering lithium.

Lithium: the element

Lithium on the periodic table is a chemical element among the alkali metals, and is the least dense solid element.

Lithium has the symbol Li and the atomic number 3.

The name lithium comes from the Greek word lithos for stone.

Uses

Lithium has the highest specific heat of any solid element and is used in heat transfer applications. It is also very light and very strong. It therefore has an astounding number and variety of uses. Just a sample of these are:

- as a medicine to treat bipolar disorder

- makes concrete harden faster

- added to molten glass, it makes the glass lighter and stronger

- is an effective power source for small, long-life batteries

- kills algae

- can be mixed with oils to make all-purpose and high-temperature lubricants

- is used to absorb carbon dioxide in space vehicles

- lithium hydride is used to inflate life boats

- lithium deuteride is used as the explosive agent in H-bombs.

Lithium statistics

In 2006, lithium consumption in the United States was estimated to be 2,500 metric tons of contained lithium, the same as the estimate for 2005 and nearly 32% more than in 2004.

The main markets for lithium as follows:

- ceramics and glass 21%

- batteries 20%

- lubricating greases 17%

- pharmaceuticals and polymers 9%

- air conditioning 7%

- primary aluminum production 5%

- and other uses 20%.

In 2006, total exports of lithium compounds from the United States decreased 11.6% compared with those of 2005. About 61% of all U.S. exports of lithium compounds went to Germany and Japan.

The global market for lithium batteries has been increasing by more than 20% per year in the past few years. Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries appear to have the greatest potential for growth. The world market for these rechargeable batteries was estimated to be $4 billion in 2005.

See the sources for the above, and other intriguing lithium statstics in the US Geological Survey 2006 Minerals Yearbook: Lithium.