Definition and characteristics
In the periodic table, lithium (Li) is the lightest solid element and belongs to the alkali metal group, Group 1 (Ia). Industrial processes are used to generate the white, glossy, and soft metal as well as a number of its alloys and compounds.
Table 1: Lithium properties
| Properties | |
| Atomic number | 3 |
| Atomic weight | 6.941 |
| Melting point | 180.5 °C (356.9 °F) |
| Boiling point | 1,342 °C (2,448 °F) |
| Specific gravity | 0.534 at 20 °C (68 °F) |
| Oxidation state | +1 |
| Electron configuration | 1s22s1 |
What Lithium is it used for?
The primary industrial usage of lithium metal is in metallurgy, where the active ingredient is employed in the refinement of metals including iron, nickel, copper, zinc, and their alloys as a scavenger, or remover of impurities. Lithium scavenges a wide range of non-metallic elements, including sulphur, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and the halogens.
In organic synthesis, lithium is used extensively in both industrial and laboratory operations. One important reagent that is mass-produced commercially is n-butyllithium, or C4H9Li.
Its main commercial application is as a polymerisation initiator, like in the making of synthetic rubber. It is also widely utilised in the synthesis of various organic compounds, particularly those found in medicines.
Aerospace and other industries use lightweight lithium-magnesium alloys and durable lithium-aluminum alloys that are harder than aluminium alone for structural purposes. Lithium hydride and other chemicals are prepared using metallic lithium.
Lithium metal, either pure or combined with other elements, is used as the anode (negative electrode) in a lot of no rechargeable lithium primary batteries due to its light weight and high negative electrochemical potential. High-power rechargeable lithium storage batteries for electric vehicles and power storage have been the subject of extensive research since the early 1990s.
The most effective of these allows the movement of the lithium cation, Li+, by separating the anode and a cathode, such as LiCoO2, using a solvent-free conducting polymer. Compact rechargeable lithium batteries are widely utilised in cameras, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets.
The biggest Lithium Producers in the world (by country)
| Country | Production 2023 (in Metric Tons) |
| Australia | 86,000 |
| Chile | 44,000 |
| China | 33,000 |
| Argentina | 9,600 |
| Brazil | 4,900 |
| Zimbabwe | 3,400 |
| Canada | 3400 |
| Portugal | 380 |
| Total | 184680 |
