Concept, Uses and Presence in the human body

We explain to you what lithium is and where this chemical element comes from.Discovery, uses and presence in the human body.

Lithium, in its pure form is a soft metal, silvery white and extremely light.

What is lithium?

Lithium (Li) is an alkaline, metallic, diamagnetic but highly reactive chemical element , of rapid oxidation in air or water.In its pure form it is a soft metal, Silver white and extremely light, which is not in a free state in nature.

It is a sodium-like element, moderately abundant on our planet, especially on volcanic or salt routes (85% of its reserves are found in Bolivian, Chilean and Argentinean territory.) Together with hydrogen and helium, lithium is one of the first elements of the universe , whose creation would respond to the same big bang .

Its name comes from the Greek word for "stone": lithios , since it was discovered in ancient times as part of large penascos.His modern understanding however dates back to 1817, when Johann Arfvedson discovered it in a petalite mine in Sweden.Lectrolysis was much later, however, and its commercialization began in 1923 by a German company.

Like other alkali metals, lithium is highly flammable and potentially explosive once exposed to air or, even more, to water.It is also corrosive, and in large quantities it can be toxic , by inhibiting the absorption of vital iodine for thyroid hormones.

It can serve you: Electrical Conductivity.

Uses of lithium

The electrochemical potential of lithium is ideal for the anode of electric batteries.

Lithium has the following applications:

• Psychopharmaceuticals Lithium salts (such as lithium carbonate) are used in psychiatric medicine as a mood stabilizer, since they inhibit episodes of mania and depression associated with bipolar disease and other mood disorders.


• Dryers.Compounds such as lithium nitrate, lithium chloride or lithium bromide have high hygroscopicity, that is, they greatly absorb atmospheric moisture, thus allowing air to be dried in closed compartments.


• Debuggers.To extract carbon dioxide from the air, lithium hydroxide is used as a scrubber in submarines and spacecraft.


• Alloys.It is used in alloys with aluminum, cadmium, copper and manganese to make ceramics, lenses, and in aeronautical construction.


• Lubricants.Certain lithium salts and stearic acid, such as lithium stearate, are used in the manufacture of lubricants for use at high temperatures.


• Battery manufacturing.Its electrochemical potential makes it ideal for the anode (positive pole) of electric batteries.

Lithium in the Periodic Table

Lithium is found together with the rest of the alkali metals such as sodium and potassium.

Lithium is represented by the chemical symbol Li and is found in the Periodic Table in group 1, together with the rest of alkali metals such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs) and francium (Fr).Its atomic number is 3.

Lithium in the human body

Lithium can cause damage to the human body , for example, when it comes into contact with the skin.Being a powerful desiccant, it quickly removes moisture from it, causing burns.

The intake of compounds with lithium in controlled quantities may be beneficial for certain psychiatric conditions, since it acts on certain neurotransmitters, stabilizing the mood.

However, it increases cell permeability by replacing sodium in cell membranes, preventing the performance of the ATPase sodium substrate substrate pump, which is toxic on a large scale.