Atomic number:3

Group numbers:1

Period:2

Electronic configuration:[He] 2s¹

Formal oxidation number:+1

Electronegativities:0.98

Atomic radius / pm:152

Relative atomic mass:6.941 ± 0.002

 

Lithium was discovered by Johan August Arfvedson (SE) in 1817. The origin of the name comes from the Greek word lithos meaning stone, apparently because it was discovered from a mineral source whereas the other two elements, sodium and potassium, were discovered from plant sources. It is a soft silvery-white metal and it's the lightest of metals. Lithium reacts slowly with water and oxygen. It's flammable and able to ignite in air. It reacts with water to give off a flammable gas. Lithium is obtained by passing electric charge through melted lithium chloride and from the silicate mineral called spodumene [LiAl(Si2O6)]. Lithium is used in batteries, for certain kinds of glass and ceramics and in lubricants.

Density / g dm^-3:534 (293 K)

 515 (m.p.)

Molar volume / cm³mol^-1:13.00 (293 K)

 13.48 (m.p.)

Electrical resistivity / μΩcm:8.55 (20 °C)

Thermal conductivity / W m^-1K^-1:84.7

Melting point / °C:180.5

Boiling point / °C:1342

Heat of fusion / kJ mol^-1:4.6

Heat of vaporization / kJ mol^-1:147.7

Heat of atomization / kJ mol^-1:157.8

1st ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:520.23

2nd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:7298.22

3rd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:11815.13

in the atmosphere / ppm:-

in the Earth's crust / ppm:13

in the oceans / ppm:0.2