How to Understand Lithium

Lithium (Li) is an element with atomic number 3 with 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. It is an alkali (reactive and does not occur in nature; Bentor, 2009, http://www.chemicalelements.com/groups/alkali.html) metal in Group 1 (1A). Lithium is the lightest of all metals having half the density of water (Topx MPI Wikipedia, n.d. /infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive?link=Wikipedia-Lip6-2/17561.xml&style). Lithium is used in batteries, ceramics, for lubricants, and in heat transfer (Gagnon, n.d. , education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele003.html; Bentor, 2009, http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/li.html). Lithium as the compound lithium carbonate is used to treat manic-depressive disorders (Winter, 2009, http://www.webelements.com/lithium/uses.html) and compounds are used to create synthetic rubber (Stanza Ltd., 2009, http://www.scienceray.com/Chemistry/Elements-of-the-Periodic-Table-Lithium-li.648457).

Li Lithium is composed of two stable isotopes (having the same number of protons as base element but a different number of neutrons) Lithium-6 and Lithium-7. (See graphic for a table of all Lithium isotopes). Lithium-6 produces helium and the hydrogen-3 isotope (tritium) when bombarded by a stream of neutrons (Stanza Ltd.). Since Lithium-7 does not absorb neutrons well it is used as a nuclear reactor coolant (Stanza Ltd.). Most of the Lithium in the Universe is Lithium-7 (Chalmers, 2008, http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19926631.300-lithium-the-hole-in-the-big-bang-theory.html?). Lithium (Li) is an element with atomic number 3 with 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. It is an alkali (reactive and does not occur in nature; Bentor, 2009, http://www.chemicalelements.com/groups/alkali.html) metal in Group 1 (1A). Lithium is the lightest of all metals having half the density of water (Topx MPI Wikipedia, n.d. /infao5501.ag5.mpi-sb.mpg.de:8080/topx/archive?link=Wikipedia-Lip6-2/17561.xml&style). Lithium is used in batteries, ceramics, for lubricants, and in heat transfer (Gagnon, n.d. , education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele003.html; Bentor, 2009, http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/li.html). Lithium as the compound lithium carbonate is used to treat manic-depressive disorders (Winter, 2009, http://www.webelements.com/lithium/uses.html) and compounds are used to create synthetic rubber (Stanza Ltd., 2009, http://www.scienceray.com/Chemistry/Elements-of-the-Periodic-Table-Lithium-li.648457). Lithium is composed of two stable isotopes (having the same number of protons as base element but a different number of neutrons) Lithium-6 and Lithium-7. Lithium-6 produces helium and the hydrogen-3 isotope (tritium) when bombarded by a stream of neutrons (Stanza Ltd.). Since Lithium-7 does not absorb neutrons well it is used as a nuclear reactor coolant (Stanza Ltd.). Most of the Lithium in the Universe is Lithium-7 (Chalmers, 2008, http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19926631.300-lithium-the-hole-in-the-big-bang-theory.html?).