Lithium is a versatile metal used in everything from electric car batteries to pharmaceuticals. Its unique properties make it ideal for use in rechargeable electric batteries. Advances in clean energy initiatives have significantly increased demand for lithium worldwide in recent years. As a result, people are frequently exposed to lithium through medical devices, mobile phones, and more.
Learn if lithium is a metal and find out more about its characteristics and potential dangers to workers, consumers, and the environment.
Characteristics of Lithium
Lithium is the lightest solid element on the periodic table at atomic number three. Lithium atoms contain three protons in the nucleus and an electron configuration that makes it reactive to other elements.
Is Lithium a Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid?
There are two important questions to ask: Is lithium a metal or nonmetal? Is lithium a metal nonmetal or metalloid? Lithium is considered a metal due to its electron configuration, which allows it to easily conduct electricity. It has a silvery-white appearance with a metallic sheen, another metal characteristic. So no, lithium is not a metalloid.
Is Lithium a Heavy Metal?
Lithium is not a heavy metal, as it is less dense than water. However, it can have toxic effects on the human body in large amounts and should be handled with caution.
Lithium vs. Other Alkali Metals
Lithium is part of the alkali metal group, which includes potassium and sodium. It does not occur naturally as a metal, but is typically found in mineral, volcanic rocks, and groundwater. Lithium in its pure metallic form is soft and light enough to float on water. Compared with the other alkali metals, lithium is harder and more stable at room temperature, with a higher melting and boiling point. It is the least reactive of the alkali metals.
Lithium ions are more likely than other alkali metals to donate electrons, which make it the strongest reducing agent of the group. This makes lithium useful for powering electronic devices, facilitating corrosive chemical reactions, and extracting metals from ores.
Evolution of Lithium Applications
Lithium was first discovered in 1817 by Johan August Arfwedson, a Swedish chemist. It was initially used as a medical treatment for mania in the late 1800s. After a temporary lull, it was reintroduced as a calming psychiatric treatment in 1949.
In industrial settings, lithium compounds were first used in aircraft engine grease, aluminum smelting, ceramic manufacturing, and air conditioning applications. Lithium isotopes were also used in nuclear weapons from the late 1950s through the mid-1980s before the end of the Cold War.
Modern uses of lithium focus on rechargeable batteries, which were first developed in the 1970s. Over the following three decades, batteries evolved from lithium-titanium to lithium-cobalt technology. The most recent iteration uses carbon-based anodes and non-aqueous electrolytes. The system was developed in 1985 by Japanese chemist Akira Yoshino, and has become the foundation for the lithium batteries used today.
Chemical Properties of Lithium
Lithium is a highly reactive element, though it is the least reactive of the alkali metals. Unlike other alkali metals like potassium and sodium, lithium reacts readily with oxygen and nitrogen to create lithium oxide and lithium nitride. It also reacts strongly to water, with a violent effervescent chemical reaction that results in lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Lithium’s ability to readily bond with many elements makes it a highly versatile option in numerous industries. Common lithium compounds include:
- Lithium carbonate: The typical form of lithium in nature, lithium carbonate is broken down using hydrochloric acid and electrolysis to create lithium metal.
- Lithium hydride: A gray, crystalline solid that releases hydrogen when treated with water.
- Lithium aluminum hydride: A lithium compound used to reduce certain substances to alcohols.
- Lithium hydroxide: Created by exposing lithium carbonate to lime. It is used to make lithium salts for lubricating greases, thickeners, and soaps. It is also an electrolyte additive in alkaline storage batteries and absorbs carbon dioxide.
- Lithium fluoride: Used to lower the melting point in glass and enamel production.
- Lithium bromide: Acts as a desiccant and absorbs water vapor in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
- Lithium chloride: Used to produce lithium metal by electrolysis, lithium batteries, and industrial dehumidifiers.
Lithium in Industry
Lithium is a highly versatile element used in a variety of industrial sectors. The three key areas where lithium is most utilized are battery technology, pharmaceuticals, and glass and ceramics production.
Rechargeable Batteries
Lithium-based batteries have become the primary energy storage method for a wide range of modern equipment. As green technology advances, the high storage capacity and lightweight nature of lithium batteries has made them particularly desirable for electric vehicles, portable electronics, medical devices, power tools, and more. Advanced energy storage systems in aerospace equipment also employ lithium batteries, due to their reliability, lightness, and longevity.
Mental Health Pharmaceuticals
Lithium salts are a common component in prescription medication for bipolar disorder (BD). Lithium was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with bipolar disorder, and is still the primary treatment for chronic and acute BD. In pharmaceuticals, lithium acts as a mood stabilizer, suicide preventative, and neuroprotective agent.
Glass and Ceramics Production
Glass stovetops, glass and ceramic cookware, aerospace mirror substrates, and industrial viewing panels are just some products that use high-quality lithium to prevent them from melting or fracturing at extreme temperatures. Lithium modifies the chemical properties of ceramic glazes and glass, reducing the potential for thermal expansion and associated breakage.
Economic Implications
Lithium is a relatively rare element only found in a few accessible areas in the Earth’s crust. The world’s primary producers of lithium are (in order of production volume): Australia, Chile, China, Argentina, and Brazil.
Increased demand for rechargeable lithium batteries in the tech and automotive industries has caused the price of lithium to increase dramatically. To ease pressure in the lithium industry, some countries are exploring sodium-ion batteries, lithium-ion battery recycling, and direct lithium extraction from brines. These technologies all require additional research and development to be useful on an industrial scale.
Environmental Concerns of Lithium Extraction
Lithium extraction and production can have significant environmental effects on local ecosystems and water resources. Lithium mining from minerals typically involve traditional pit mining and open pit mining methods. These hard rock and clay mining methods impact soil, vegetation, air quality, and water quality.
Brine extraction from geothermal and groundwater sources can create issues for ecosystems dependent on these sources. In some areas, brine pumping has been associated with vegetation decline, reduced soil moisture, higher local temperatures, and drought. Mineral mining and brine extraction for lithium create wastewater that could contaminate surrounding areas, further compromising ecological safety and biodiversity.
Human Rights Considerations
In addition to its environmental impact, lithium mining has serious social impacts on local communities. Some mining activities harm or displace local communities by diminishing air quality, consuming freshwater, compromising water quality, and releasing harmful pollutants into the area.
Often, communities report an inability to access information, make decisions, or file complaints about mining operations. Individuals living in these communities may lack access to basic services and infrastructure. Employees at lithium mines often face dangerous working conditions for low pay.
Future of Lithium Technology
As technology moves away from fossil fuels, lithium will continue to play a critical role in energy storage applications. Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the industry for rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles, cell phones, and more. However, many companies are looking for ways to improve battery charging time, capacity, and service life.
Concerns about the cost and availability of lithium, cobalt, and other battery materials have scientists and companies seeking lithium-ion alternatives. In the meantime, lithium is likely to continue to be a primary ingredient in battery technology.
Lithium-Ion vs. Lithium-Metal Batteries
Recent developments have explored solid-state batteries, also called lithium-metal batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion designs. Rather than using electrolyte fluid to transmit charge within the battery, lithium-metal batteries use ceramics or other materials infused with metallic lithium.
Solid-state batteries are smaller, faster, and less flammable than liquid lithium-ion batteries. They also have higher energy densities, which lets them store more energy than their liquid counterparts. Since lithium battery fires and explosions are one of the most common industrial accidents associated with lithium-based batteries, the development of solid-state batteries could be game changing for workplace safety by reducing the potential for dangerous fires and explosions.
However, the technology still needs some work. Manufacturing challenges and degradation over time have prevented solid-state batteries from overtaking lithium-ion thus far, but that is likely to change over the next few years.
Lithium FAQs
Is lithium metal hazardous?
Lithium metal is hazardous. It reacts violently to moisture, water, and steam with heat, flame, and explosion.
Is lithium a solid metal?
Lithium is a solid metal at room temperature.
Why is lithium rare?
Lithium is rare in the universe because the conditions for producing it are sparse and it does not take very high stellar temperatures to destroy it. On Earth, lithium is only available in mineral and liquid form in a few concentrated areas.
The Role of Lithium in the Future of Technology and Sustainability
Lithium will undeniably play an important role in the future development of sustainable technology. As car and technology manufacturers investigate new uses and extraction methods, it is more critical than ever to keep an eye on the hazards associated with lithium mining and extraction. It is also important to be aware of the dangers associated with lithium-based batteries in industrial settings.
The industrial accident lawyers at Morris & Dewett monitor lithium technology and developments in industrial settings. We understand how a working knowledge of modern technological advancements is crucial for defending workers’ rights. Our legal team can help you understand what steps to take after an industrial accident and guide you through the legal process to recover compensation. Contact us today to learn more.
Resources:
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- Government of Canada. Lithium facts. Accessed October 18, 2024.
- Brunelli, Kevin, et al. Lithium in the Energy Transition: Roundtable Report. Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. January 12, 2024.
- Parker, Sophie S., et al. Potential impacts of proposed lithium extraction on biodiversity and conservation in the contiguous United States. Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 911. February 10, 2024.
- Díaz Paz, Walter Fernando, et al. Lithium mining, water resources, and socio-economic issues in northern Argentina: We are not all in the same boat. Resources Policy. Vol. 81. March 2023.
- Crownhart, Casey. What’s next for batteries. MIT Technology Review. January 4, 2023.