Page 26 - The Periodic Table Book
P. 26

3
              Li   Lithium


                                                                                                   Discovery: 1817
                                                                                   3     3     4   State: Solid
       Alkali Metals  Forms                    tiny amounts of  dissolved     Oyster mushrooms
                                                  This water contains
                                                    lithium minerals.




            Lepidolite                                          Drinking    water










                                                                                 These mushrooms
                                                                                    absorb lithium
                                                                                     from the soil.

                                                                                    Pale
                                                                                    quartz
                                                                                                          Prawn






                                                                                                      Prawns and other
                                                                                                   shellfish absorb lithium
                                                                                                        from seawater.





                                                                                          Petalite

                      Purple crystals                            Shiny pure lithium
                      containing lithium
                                                                 becomes dull when
                                                                 it is exposed to air.
                    Bar of pure lithium refined in a laboratory








                                                                                               Grey-white
                                                                                                  crystals



           Lithium is the the lightest of all metals:          contains millions of tonnes of dissolved lithium.
           in fact, it can easily float on water. Pure         Lithium is found in many foods, such as
           lithium is very reactive and exists in nature       mushrooms, prawns, nuts, and seeds. It also
           only in minerals, such as lepidolite and            has many everyday applications. Glass composed
           petalite. Many lithium minerals dissolve            of lithium is resistant to heat and is used in
    24     well in water, and the world’s seawater             scientific equipment, such as mirrors inside





   024-025_Lithium.indd   24                                                                                     05/01/17   2:49 pm
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