Properties Of Lithium

We can study the properties of lithium by classifying them in two categories. These are:

• Physical Properties of Sulfur
• Chemical Properties of Sulfur

Physical properties of Lithium

Lithium has several physical properties. These physical properties are given below –

• At room temperature, lithium is solid element.
• Lithium is very soft type metal.
• It occurs in silver white color or gray color.
• It is least dense solid metal. Its density is less than water.
• Lithium is the lightest solid metal.
• It is found in the first group as an alkali group member.
• Its atomic number is 3 and atomic mass is 6.941.
• Boiling point and melting point of lithium is 1342^oc and 180.2^oc respectively.
• It has very high specific hear and thermal conductivity. The specific heat and thermal conductivity of lithium are 3582J/Kg−K and 84.8W/mK respectively.

Chemical Properties of Lithium

The chemical properties of lithium are as follows:

• Lithium is a very reactive element. It reacts with several organic reagents as well as many inorganic reagents.
• When it comes to air, it burns with a red color flame and produce lithium monoxide (Li₂O).

4Li + O₂ = 2Li₂O

• Lithium oxide reacts with acids to produce their respective salts and water.

Li₂O + 2HCl → 2LiCl + H₂O

• Lithium oxide reacts with water to form lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

2Li₂O + 2H₂O→ 4LiOH + H₂

• Lithium is the only alkali metal that reacts with nitrogen to form lithium nitrite.

6Li + N2 → 2Li₃N

• Lithium reacts with hydrogen to form lithium hydride. It is a quick reaction.

2Li + H₂ → 2LiH

• Lithium reacts with the carbon to form lithium carbide (Li₂C₂).

10Li + 2CO₂ → Li2C₂ + 4Li₂O

• Due to extreme small size of its cation, it reacts with halogens to form ionic halides.

2Li + X₂ → 2LiX (X = F, Cl, ,Br, I)

Lithium is an important element that belongs to alkali metal group in periodic table. Lithium is the lightest solid metal. It is represented with the symbol “Li”. Lithium was discovered by scientist Johan August Arfvedson in the year 1817. In this article, we will discuss the complete details about Lithium including what is Lithium, its properties, uses and many other important terms.