lithium
Americannoun
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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.
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Pharmacology. the substance in its carbonate or citrate form used in the treatment or prophylaxis of bipolar disorder or mania.
noun
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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.
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See Periodic Table
Etymology
Origin of lithium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Copper, of which Chile is the world's leading producer, accounts for about 10 percent of GDP while the country is also the world's second-largest producer of lithium behind Australia.
From Barron's
The group’s goal is to help the U.S. and allied nations secure sources and supply chains for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, manganese, uranium and copper.
Zimbabwe has some of Africa's largest lithium reserves, as well as chromium, cobalt and rare earth minerals.
From BBC
Rio Tinto lined up nearly $1.2 billion to finance the development of a lithium project in Argentina, supporting its growth pipeline for the key ingredient in battery storage and electric vehicles.
Find insight on lithium prices and more in the latest Market Talks covering basic materials.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.