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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Lithium – Li

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Lithium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Lithium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Lithium Menu

• Lithium Page One
  • Overview of Lithium
  • Lithium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Lithium
  • Chemical Properties of Lithium
  • Physical Properties of Lithium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Lithium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Lithium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Lithium

Overview of Lithium

• Atomic Number:3
• Group: 1
• Period: 2
• Series: Alkali Metals

Lithium's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Lithium
• Czech: Lithium
• Croatian: Litij
• French: Lithium
• German: Lithium - s
• Italian: Litio
• Norwegian: Litium
• Portuguese: Litio
• Russian:
• Spanish: Lítio
• Swedish: Litium

Atomic Structure of Lithium

• Atomic Radius: 2.05Å
• Atomic Volume: 13.1cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.23Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 70.5
• Crystal Structure: Cubic body centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s¹

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,1

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.76Å
• Filling Orbital: 2s¹
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 3
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 4
• Number of Protons: 3
• Oxidation States: 1
• Valence Electrons: 2s¹

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Lithium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.259g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 2.9eV
• Electronegativity: 0.98 (Pauling); 0.97 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 3kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

  water, acids, oxidizing agents

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 5.392
  • Second: 76.638
  • Third: 122.451
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 19

Physical Properties of Lithium

• Atomic Mass Average: 6.941
• Boiling Point: 1615.15K 1342°C 2448°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 56E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.108 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.847 W/cmK

• Density: 0.534g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Soft silvery-white metal. Lightest of metals.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 11/GPa
  • Rigidity: 4.24/GPa
  • Youngs: 4.91/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 160.7 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 3 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 134.7 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Flammable solid
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Mohs: 0.6
• Heat of Vaporization: 145.92kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 453.85K 180.7°C 357.3°F
  
• Molar Volume: 13 cm³/mole
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 3.6J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 1.63E-08Pa@180.7°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7439-93-2
• UN/NA ID and ERG Guide Number
  • UN1415  / 138 
• RTECS: OJ5540000
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • No limits set by OSHA
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • No limits set by OSHA
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • No limits set by NIOSH
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 0.004
  • Bone/p.p.m: 1.3
  • Liver/p.p.m: 0.025
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.023
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.1-2 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 7 mg

Who / Where / When / How

• Discoverer: Johann A. Arfvedson
• Discovery Location: Stockholm Sweden
• Discovery Year: 1817
• Name Origin:

  Greek: lithos (stone)

• Abundance of Lithium:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 20
  • Seawater/p.p.m.: 0.17
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 10
• Sources of Lithium:

  Spodumene, ambylgonite, lepidolite and desert lake brines. Also obtained by passing electric charge through melted lithium chloride. Around 39,000 tons of lithium is produced each year. The primary source of lithium is the USA.

• Uses of Lithium:

  Used in batteries, ceramics, glass, lubricants, alloy hardeners, pharmaceuticals, hydrogenating agents, heat transfer liquids, rocket propellants, vitamin A synthesis, nuclear reactor coolant, underwater buoyancy devices and the production of tritium. Deoxidizer in copper and copper alloys.

• Additional Notes:

  Lithium was first isolated in 1821 by W.T Brande. Near its melting point, lithium ignites in air. Lithium posses a dangerous fire and explosion risk when exposed to water, acids or oxidizing agents. It reacts exothermally with nitrogen in moist air at high temperatures. In solution lithium is toxic and targets the central nervous system.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Lithium Menu

• Lithium Page One
  • Overview of Lithium
  • Lithium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Lithium
  • Chemical Properties of Lithium
  • Physical Properties of Lithium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Lithium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Lithium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Lithium

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
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• Molarity, Molality and Normality
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• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Lithium – Li. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 11/8/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Li.html
.