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lithium
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lithium A labeled diagram of the lithium element from the periodic table displays its atomic number (3), symbol (Li), electron configuration, and name. It highlights lithium as an alkali metal, solid at room temperature, with a body-centered cubic crystal structure and strongly basic higher-valence oxides.
lithium-ion batteries
Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements Large open-pit mine with drilling equipment and vehicles positioned in a grid pattern on the quarry floor for lithium and spodumene extraction in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. Figure 12: The energy levels of three nuclei with A = 6, relative to the ground state of 6Li after subtraction of the calculated electrostatic energy. The isospin T = 1 levels exist in all three nuclei. Line graph showing the first ionization energies of the elements as a function of atomic number, with peaks at noble gases like helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, and labeled elements at key points. A scientific graph plots average nuclear binding energy per nucleon (in MeV) against atomic mass number, showing a sharp rise at low mass numbers, peaking near iron (Fe), then gradually declining for heavier elements. Key isotopes are labeled along the curve. decay of beryllium-7
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lithium
lithium Three fragments of Lithium metal.

lithium

chemical element
Also known as: Li
Written by
James L. Dye
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
James L. Dye
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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lithium (Li), chemical element of Group 1 (Ia) in the periodic table, the alkali metal group, lightest of the solid elements. The metal itself—which is soft, white, and lustrous—and several of its alloys and compounds are produced on an industrial scale. atomic number 3 atomic weight 6.941 melting point 180.5 °C (356.9 °F) boiling point 1,342 °C (2,448 °F) specific gravity 0.534 at 20 °C (68 °F) oxidation state +1 electron configuration 2-1 or 1s22s1...

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