lithium

[ lith-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a soft, silver-white metallic element, the lightest of all metals, occurring combined in certain minerals. : Li; : 6.939; : 3; : 0.53 at 20°C.
2. Pharmacology. the substance in its carbonate or citrate form used in the treatment or prophylaxis of bipolar disorder or mania.

lithium

/ ˈlɪθɪəm /

noun

1. a soft silvery element of the alkali metal series: the lightest known metal, used as an alloy hardener, as a reducing agent, and in batteries. Symbol: Li; atomic no: 3; atomic wt: 6.941; valency: 1; relative density: 0.534; melting pt: 180.6°C; boiling pt: 1342°C

lithium

/ lĭth′ē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery metallic element of the alkali group that occurs in small amounts in some minerals. It is the lightest of all metals and is highly reactive. Lithium is used to make alloys, batteries, glass for large telescopes, and ceramics. Atomic number 3; atomic weight 6.941; melting point 179°C; boiling point 1,317°C; specific gravity 0.534; valence 1.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of lithium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1810–20; lith-, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of lithium¹

C19: New Latin, from litho- + -ium

Example Sentences

The rechargeable lithium battery provides 21 days of battery life with an additional 3 with solar charging, so you won’t find yourself stranded.

From Popular-Science

Beneath the Atacama Salt Flat, a Rhode Island-sized expanse of salts, a major source of lithium is locked in an underground reservoir.

From Quartz

In a lithium-metal battery, that anode is made from lithium itself.

From MIT Technology Review

Smartwatch batteries started as liquid lithium batteries, but most commonly now use rechargeable batteries of lithium-ion polymer technology.

From Popular-Science

Another study from 2010 found that not only are battery ingestions increasing, but those incidents are becoming more likely to end in death or a severe medical event, partly because of a trend toward higher-voltage lithium cells.

From Ozy

I have previously drawn attention to the cargo aboard Flight 370, which included a large consignment of lithium-ion batteries.

From The Daily Beast

Last week it made five recommendations directed at the testing and certification of lithium-ion batteries.

From The Daily Beast

Lithium-ion batteries will further increase underwater performance.

From The Daily Beast

How can this saga of the lithium-ion batteries be tied to the fate of Flight 370?

From The Daily Beast

A month after that announcement, unaccustomed daylight was forced upon the lithium-ion battery industry.

From The Daily Beast

Besides the hexamethylenamin, Uriseptin contains lithium and a benzoate.

From Project Gutenberg

According to our chemists, the chief ingredients of Uriseptin are hexamethylenamin and lithium benzoate.

From Project Gutenberg

It is further known that lithium salts do not possess any great medicinal virtue.

From Project Gutenberg

Just what acid citro-tartrate of lithium may be is hard to tell, for chemistries do not recognize such a substance.

From Project Gutenberg

Accepting this theory, it was inevitable that mineral waters containing lithium salts should become highly popular.

From Project Gutenberg