Lithium (Li)
A soft metal that powers the batteries in phones and tablets.
Lithium facts
- Symbol
- Li
- Atomic number
- 3
- Atomic mass
- 6.94
- Family
- Alkali metals
- Period
- 2
- Group
- 1
Famous reactions with lithium
- The only one that can! Lithium meets NitrogenLithium nitride 6Li + N₂ → 2Li₃N · At room temperature · Try it
- Gentle bubbles! Lithium meets WaterLithium hydroxide + hydrogen gas 2Li + 2H₂O → 2LiOH + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
What does lithium react with?
Lithium makes a new substance with 12 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Lithium + HydrogenLithium hydride 2Li + H₂ → 2LiH · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + CarbonLithium carbide 2Li + 2C → Li₂C₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Lithium + OxygenLithium oxide 4Li + O₂ → 2Li₂O · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + FluorineLithium fluoride 2Li + F₂ → 2LiF · At room temperature · Try it
- Lithium + PhosphorusLithium phosphide 3Li + P → Li₃P · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + SulfurLithium sulfide 2Li + S → Li₂S · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + ChlorineLithium chloride 2Li + Cl₂ → 2LiCl · At room temperature · Try it
- Lithium + SeleniumLithium selenide 2Li + Se → Li₂Se · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + BromineLithium bromide 2Li + Br₂ → 2LiBr · At room temperature · Try it
- Lithium + TelluriumLithium telluride 2Li + Te → Li₂Te · When heated · Try it
- Lithium + IodineLithium iodide 2Li + I₂ → 2LiI · At room temperature · Try it
- Lithium + Hydrochloric AcidLithium chloride + hydrogen gas 2Li + 2HCl → 2LiCl + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 74 other metals when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 10 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.