Chemistry

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The Chemistry of Lithium and Its Uses

Lithium is a Group 1 (IA) element containing just a single valence electron (1s22s1). Group 1 elements are called "alkali metals". Lithium is a solid only about half as dense as water. A freshly cut chunk of lithium is silvery, but tarnishes in a minute or so in air to give a grey surface.

Lithium is mixed (alloyed) with aluminium and magnesium for light-weight alloys, and is also used in batteries, some greases, some glasses, and in medicine.

Lithium was first discovered and defined by by J.A. Arfvedson in 1817 when he did an analysis of a mineral he had found. This mineral, petalite (LiAl(Si2O5)2), was first found by Brazilian scientist José Bonifácio in 1800. Arfvedson was never able to fully isolate lithium, and it wasn't until 1855 that it was isolated, by W.T. Brande. Lithium was first produced commercially in 1923, by Metallgesellschaft AG.

Lithium has a number of different uses in different sectors of society. The most common use is in lithium batteries. These are lightweight and are not as toxic as lead and cadmium batteries. These batteries have applications as small as watch batteries and as large as military and space vehicles.

Demand for lithium is increasing from the current market of ~ 100,000 tonnes LiCO2 equivalent. Lithium ion batteries have become the rechargeable battery of choice and are now almost used exclusively in cell phone and computer batteries with items such as shavers, power tools, and hybrid and electric cars switching over from the nickel varieties. The benefits of lithium ion batteries include; higher energy density to weight ratio, longer life, and no memory effect.

Automotive companies have recently been announcing that lithium ion batteries will be in their hybrid cars in 2009 and 2010. Toyota is targeting 1 million hybrid cars for 2010. Hybrid car numbers continue to increase as a result of increasing fuel prices and emission issues with conventional vehicles. For every one unit of lithium in a cell phone battery there are 7 in a computer battery, 3,000 in a hybrid car and 7,000 in an electric car; this is 9 to 30 kilograms of Li2O per battery.

Other Uses:

lithium stearate is mixed with oils to make all-purpose and high-temperature lubricants.

lithium hydroxide is used to absorb carbon dioxide in space vehicles.

lithium is alloyed with aluminium, copper, manganese, and cadmium to make high perfomance alloys for aircraft .

Bahnmetall consists of lead containing 0.04% lithium, 0.7% calcium and 0.6% sodium is harder than pure lead and was used for railroad car bearings in Germany.

compounds such as LiAlH4 and organolithium reagents (LiMe, LiPh, etc.) are very important as reagents in organic chemistry.

lithium metal has the highest specific heat of any solid element and so heat transfer applications.

various nuclear applications.

lithium is sometimes used as battery anode material (high electrochemical potential) and lithium compounds are used in dry cells and storage batteries.

lithium is used in the manufacture of special high strength glasses and ceramics

sometimes, lithium-based compounds such as lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) are used as drugs to treat manic-depressive disorders.