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Lithium
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Alkali metal:
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Properties:
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Soft, silver-white metal. Highly reactive and flammable.
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Uses:
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Batteries, medicine, industrial chemicals, rocket propellants
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Hazard:
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Corrosive, highly flammable
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Lithium is a chemical element, typically found as a solid in its elemental form. It has the chemical symbol Li, atomic number (number of protons) Z = 3, and a standard atomic weight of 6.941 g/mol.
Lithium is considered to be a member of the "Alkali metal" class of elements. At a pressure of 101.325 kPa, it has a boiling point of 1342 °C, and a melting point of 180.5 °C. With a density of 0.534 g/cc, it is lighter than water.
Substance withdrawal syndrome[edit]
Substance withdrawal syndrome may occur after discontinuing lithium.[1][2]
Nuclear engineering[edit]
6Li, usually as lithium hydride, is the starting material to generate tritium in the Secondary of operational thermonuclear weapons.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ Cavanagh J, Smyth R, Goodwin GM (2004). "Relapse into mania or depression following lithium discontinuation: a 7-year follow-up.". Acta Psychiatr Scand 109 (2): 91-5. PMID 14725588.
- ↑ Viguera AC, Nonacs R, Cohen LS, Tondo L, Murray A, Baldessarini RJ (2000). "Risk of recurrence of bipolar disorder in pregnant and nonpregnant women after discontinuing lithium maintenance.". Am J Psychiatry 157 (2): 179-84. PMID 10671384.
- ↑ Restricted Data Declassification Decisions 1946 to the Present, U.S. Department of Energy, 1 January 2001, RDD-7, Section II.P