Lithium

Lithium() is the 3rd element in the periodic table according to its atomic number 3. It is a soft metal belonging to the alkali metal group. Lithium is highly reactive due to its monovalency(+1) and also very flammable.
Due to high reactivity, lithium never occurs in its free state form but instead exists in form of compounds which are usually ionic but can also be sometimes covalent. An interesting thing to note about lithium is that it has a very low density due to which it floats in water.
==Properties==
Since Lithium is a metal it has all the properties of a metal. Many of its physical and chemical properties are more similar to those of the alkaline earth metals than to those of its own group.
Between the most significant properties of lithium we find its high specific heat (calorific capacity), the huge temperature interval in the liquid state, high termic conductivity, low viscosity and very low density.
Lithium takes part in a huge number of reactions, with organic reactants as well as with inorganic reactants. It reacts with oxygen to form monoxide and peroxide. It’s the only alkaline metal that reacts with nitrogen at ambient temperature to produce a black nitrure. It reacts easily with hydrogen at almost 500ºC (930ºF) to form lithium hydride. Metallic lithium’s reaction with water is extremely vigorous. Lithium reacts directly with the carbon to produce the carbure.
==Discovery==
Petalite ore, which contained Lithium, was discovered in 1800 but Lithium wasn't yet claimed to be new element until 1817.
==Application==
The main lithium compound is the lithium hydroxide. It’s a white powder; the manufactured material is monohydrate lithium hydroxide. The carbonate can be used in the pottery industry and in medicine as an antidepressant. The bromine and the lithium chloride both form concentrated brine, which have the property of absorbing the humidity in a wide interval of temperature; these brines are used in the manufactured air conditioning systems. 
The main industrial use of lithium is in lithium stearatum form, as lubricant grease’s thickener. Other important applications of lithium compounds are in pottery, specifically in porcelain glaze; as an additive to extend the life and performance of alkaline storage batteries and in autogenous welding and brass welding.Alloys of the metal with aluminium, cadmium, copper, and manganese are used to make high performance aircraft parts.
Category:Element