Chemical data for Li - Lithium | PhysLink.com

Lithium

 Lithium 
Li
Atomic Number: 3
Atomic Weight: 6.94
Element Type: Alkali Metal
Crystal Structure: Cubic Face Centered
Melting Point: 180.5°C = 356.9°F = 453.65 K
Boiling Point: 1342.0°C = 2447.6°F = 1615.15 K
Critical Temp: °C = °F = K
Atomic Radius: 2.05 Å (Å = Angstrom = 10-10 m)
Covalent Radius: 1.23 Å
Electronegativity: 0.98

History

(Gr. lithos, stone) Discovered by Arfvedson in 1817. Lithium is the lightest of allmetals, with a density only about half that of water.


Sources

It does not occur free in nature; combined it is found in small units in nearly alligneous rocks and in the waters of many mineral springs. Lepidolite, spodumeme, petalite,and amblygonite are the more important minerals containing it.

Lithium is presently being recovered from brines of Searles Lake, in California, andfrom those in Nevada. Large deposits of quadramene are found in North Carolina. The metalis produced electrolytically from the fused chloride. Lithium is silvery in appearance,much like Na and K, other members of the alkali metal series. It reacts with water, butnot as vigorously as sodium. Lithium imparts a beautiful crimson color to a flame, butwhen the metal burns strongly, the flame is a dazzling white.