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lithium-6
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lithium-6

chemical isotope
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Quick Summary

Lithium-6 is a chemical isotope of lithium, a chemical element and the lightest of the solid elements. Lithium is an alkali metal found in Group 1 of the periodic table. It is a soft, white, and lustrous metal.1

Naturally occurring lithium consists of two stable isotopes: lithium-6 and lithium-7. Lithium-6 makes up about 92.5 percent of natural lithium, while lithium-7 constitutes the remaining 7.5 percent. Lithium-6 plays a role in nuclear reactions, such as the production of tritium when bombarded with slow neutrons. This tritium has applications in hydrogen bombs and as a radioactive tracer in biological research. Lithium-7, due to its low neutron absorption, has potential as a coolant in nuclear reactors requiring high temperatures.1

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