First we have plenty of hydrogen and then we have hydrogen fusion main sequence stars producing hydrogen.
One proton
Two protons
These two elements are gases
So why on earth (and heaven) is the next element with three protons in its nucleus a metal?
Lithium (from lithos, Greek for stone) is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3.
Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element.
Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable. For this reason, it is typically stored in mineral oil.
When cut open, lithium exhibits a metallic luster, but contact with moist air corrodes the surface quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish.
Because of its high reactivity, lithium never occurs freely in nature, and instead, only appears in compounds, which are usually ionic.
Lithium occurs in a number of pegmatitic minerals, but due to its solubility as an ion is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines and clays.
On a commercial scale, lithium is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.
wikipedia
Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element.
Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable. For this reason, it is typically stored in mineral oil.
When cut open, lithium exhibits a metallic luster, but contact with moist air corrodes the surface quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish.
Because of its high reactivity, lithium never occurs freely in nature, and instead, only appears in compounds, which are usually ionic.
Lithium occurs in a number of pegmatitic minerals, but due to its solubility as an ion is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines and clays.
On a commercial scale, lithium is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.
wikipedia
Weapons!
Is lithium important to humans?
Of course, it can and has been used in thermonuclear weapons so it is important to humans. (Has some civilian usages also...)
The nuclei of lithium verge on instability, since the two stable lithium isotopes found in nature have among the lowest binding energies per nucleon of all stable nuclides.
Because of its relative nuclear instability, lithium is less common in the solar system than 25 of the first 32 chemical elements even though the nuclei are very light in atomic weight.
For related reasons, lithium has important links to nuclear physics. The transmutation of lithium atoms to helium in 1932 was the first fully man-made nuclear reaction, and lithium deuteride serves as a fusion fuel in staged thermonuclear weapons.
wikipedia
Because of its relative nuclear instability, lithium is less common in the solar system than 25 of the first 32 chemical elements even though the nuclei are very light in atomic weight.
For related reasons, lithium has important links to nuclear physics. The transmutation of lithium atoms to helium in 1932 was the first fully man-made nuclear reaction, and lithium deuteride serves as a fusion fuel in staged thermonuclear weapons.
wikipedia
Lithium batteries, yes, but what about human bodies?
Trace amounts of lithium are present in all organisms.
The element serves no apparent vital biological function, since animals and plants survive in good health without it.
Nonvital functions have not been ruled out. The lithium ion Li+ administered as any of several lithium salts has proved to be useful as a mood-stabilizing drug due to neurological effects of the ion in the human body.
wikipedia
The element serves no apparent vital biological function, since animals and plants survive in good health without it.
Nonvital functions have not been ruled out. The lithium ion Li+ administered as any of several lithium salts has proved to be useful as a mood-stabilizing drug due to neurological effects of the ion in the human body.
wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment