lithium

American  

[lith-ee-uhm] / ˈlɪθ i əm /

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.

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lithium British  

/ 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

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lithium Scientific  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of lithium

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

Example Sentences

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial to stabilize critical mineral supply, including rare earths, lithium, and copper.

From Barron's

Raw materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt are essential for electronic goods such as batteries and wind turbines and needed for the EU's green transition.

From Barron's

The best explanation is that investors are a little nervous about the price of lithium, while Albemarle stock has been superstrong.

From Barron's

He also previously wrote about stocks and commodities, including battery metals such as lithium and cobalt.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Chinese lithium company swung to a profit in 2025 due to higher lithium prices and fair-value gains from stock investments.

From The Wall Street Journal