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- Name : Lithium
- Symbol : Li
- Atomic # : 3
- Atom weight: 6.941
- Melting P. : 180.54
- Boiling P. : 1342
- Oxidation : +1
- Pronounced : LITH-i-em
- From : Greek lithos, "stone"
- Identified : Johan August Arfwedson in 1817
- Appearance : Soft, silvery-white metal
- Note : Lightest and simplest of all solid elements.
-
- [Properties]
-
- Lithium heads the list of Group IA metals known as alkali metals. This
- group includes some other metals with familiar-sounding names and a few
- that are relatively obscure to the everyday world: sodium (Na), potassium
- (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). One of the
- distinguishing characteristics of these metals is their great affinity for
- forming strong reducing agent. Like the other alkali metals, lithium
- reduces water to yield a hydroxide and liberate hydrogen gas and heat.
-