Lithium
Explanation
Lithium is an element of the periodic table with atomic number 3. It is a soft alkali metal, and it is also the lightest metal and lightest solid element (at STP). It is highly reactive and combusts with oxygen from the atmosphere. Its naturally occurring isotopes are 6Li and 7Li, of which Lithium-7 has a natural abundance of 92.5%. It has multiple uses, including lithium-ion batteries. It has the electron configuration [He] 2s1.
Properties
| Symbol | Li |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 3 |
| Atomic mass | 6.94 g/mol |
| Melting point | 180.50 °C (453.65 K) |
| Boiling point | 1330 °C (1603 K) |
| Density | 0.534 g/cm3 at r.t. |
| Isotopes | 2 |
FAQs
Why is lithium used in batteries?
Lithium is used in lithium-ion batteries, which have an electrolytic cell with an anode of graphite and some lithium based compound at the cathode. This makes them very portable. Li-ion batteries were popularised because of their energy density.