Lithium

: This article is about the chemical element Lithium. For other uses, see Lithium (disambiguation).

Applications

Because of its large specific heat (the largest of any solid), lithium is used in heat

Related Topics:
Specific heat - Solid

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transfer applications. It is also an important battery anode material due to its high

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electrochemical potential. In addition to being lighter than the standard dry cell, these batteries produce a higher voltage (3 volts versus 1.5 volts). Other uses:

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• Lithium salts such as lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃), lithium citrate, and lithium orotate are mood stabilizers used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since unlike most other mood altering drugs, they counteract both mania and depression. Lithium can also be used to augment other antidepressant drugs. Useful amounts of Lithium for this use are only slightly lower than toxic amounts, so the blood levels of Lithium have to be carefully monitored during such a treatment.
• Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are extremely hygroscopic and frequently used as desiccants.
• Lithium stearate is a common all-purpose high-temperature lubricant.
• Lithium is an alloying agent used to synthesize organic compounds.
• Lithium is used as a flux to promote the fusing of metals during welding and soldering. It also eliminates the forming of oxides during welding by absorbing impurities. This fusing quality is also important as a flux for producing ceramics, enamels, and glass.
• Lithium is sometimes used in glasses and ceramics including the glass for the 200-inch (5.08 m) telescope at Mt. Palomar.
• Lithium hydroxide is employed to extract carbon dioxide from the air in spacecraft and submarines. Any alkali hydroxide will absorb CO₂, but lithium hydroxide is preferred because of its low molecular weight.
• Alloys of the metal with aluminium, cadmium, copper, and manganese are used to make high performance aircraft parts.
• Lithium niobate is used extensively in the telecoms market, such as mobile phones and optical modulators.
• The high non-linearity of lithium niobate also makes a good choice for non-linear applications.
• Lithium deuteride (deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen) is the fusion fuel of choice in the so-called hydrogen bomb. When bombarded by neutrons, both lithium-6 and lithium-7 produce tritium. Tritium fuses with deuterium in a fusion reaction that is relatively easy to achieve.
• Lithium is used as a source for alpha particles, or helium nuclei. When lithium-7 nuclei are bombarded by accelerated protons, some of the lithium nuclei are broken into four protons and four neutrons, which, in turn, form two alpha particles. This was the first man-made nuclear reaction, produced by Cockroft and Walton in 1929.
• Lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is an important compound of lithium obtained from lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃). It is a strong base, and when heated with a fat, it produces a lithium soap. Lithium soap has the ability to thicken oils and so is used commercially to manufacture lubricating greases.
• Lithium hydroxide is an efficient and lightweight purifier of air. In confined areas, such as aboard spacecraft, the concentration of carbon dioxide can approach unhealthy or toxic levels. Lithium hydroxide absorbs the carbon dioxide from the air by reacting with it to form lithium carbonate.