What is "lithium"

Lithium \Lith"i*um\ (l[i^]th"[i^]*[u^]m), n. [NL., from Gr. li`qeios of stone, fr. li`qos stone.] (Chem.) A metallic element of the alkaline group, occurring in several minerals, as petalite, spodumene, lepidolite, triphylite, etc., and otherwise widely disseminated, though in small quantities.

Note: When isolated it is a soft, silver white metal, tarnishing and oxidizing very rapidly in the air. It is the lightest solid element known, specific gravity being 0.59. Symbol Li. Atomic weight 7.0 So called from having been discovered in a mineral.

silver-white metallic element, 1818, with element ending -ium + lithia, Modern Latin name given by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848) to the earth from which it was extracted, from Greek lithos "stone" (see litho-). So called from its mineral origin and to distinguish it from two previously known alkalis of vegetable origin.

n. 1 (context uncountable English) The simplest alkali metal, the lightest solid element, and the third lightest chemical element (''symbol'' Li) with an atomic number of 3. 2 (context pharmaceutical drug uncountable English) lithium carbonate or other preparations of lithium metal used to treat manic depression and bipolar disorders. 3 A lithium battery.

n. a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals [syn: Li, atomic number 3]

"Lithium" is a song by American rock band Nirvana. Written by frontman Kurt Cobain, the song is about a man who turns to religion amid thoughts of suicide. Nirvana first recorded "Lithium" in 1990 but then re-recorded the song the following year for the group's second album Nevermind (1991).

Released as the third single from Nevermind in July 1992, "Lithium" peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video, directed by Kevin Kerslake, is a montage of concert footage.

Lithium is a chemical element.

Lithium may also refer to:

Lithium is a 1990s grunge and alternative rock channel airing on Sirius XM Radio channel 34 and Dish Network channel 6034. It debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio on February 14, 2007, moving SIRIUS Disorder to channel 32 and later to channel 70. An update was sent to all Sirius radios which corrected the issue where Lithium was called "'90s Alternative" and the Stiletto radios displayed the Sirius logo.

The Sirius radios and website displays the channel as "Lithium." It takes its name from the Nirvana song, Lithium. Lithium was the first all- 1990s channel since I-90 signed off on November 4, 2002.

While the primary focus is grunge and alternative rock, the channel also played bands from the late 1990s wave of nu metal and alternative metal, such as Limp Bizkit, Orgy and Slipknot.

The genus Lithium is a group of four described species of aphid wasps, occurring from Mali to Turkey

Lithium is a full-stack web framework, for producing web applications. It is written in PHP, supporting PHP 5.3 and onwards and is based on the model–view–controller development architecture. It is described as adhering to no-nonsense philosophies.

Lithium was a French indie rock label, founded by Vincent Chauvier in the early 90's. It has ceased to exist in 2004.

Lithium (from , "stone") is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silver-white metal belonging to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable. For this reason, it is typically stored in mineral oil. When cut open, it exhibits a metallic luster, but contact with moist air corrodes the surface quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish. Because of its high reactivity, lithium never occurs freely in nature, and instead, appears only in compounds, which are usually ionic. Lithium occurs in a number of pegmatitic minerals, but due to its solubility as an ion, is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines and clays. On a commercial scale, lithium is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

The nucleus of the lithium atom verges on instability, since the two stable lithium isotopes found in nature have among the lowest binding energies per nucleon of all stable nuclides. Because of its relative nuclear instability, lithium is less common in the solar system than 25 of the first 32 chemical elements even though the nuclei are very light in atomic weight. For related reasons, lithium has important links to nuclear physics. The transmutation of lithium atoms to helium in 1932 was the first fully man-made nuclear reaction, and lithium-6 deuteride serves as a fusion fuel in staged thermonuclear weapons.

Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease lubricants, flux additives for iron, steel and aluminium production, lithium batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. These uses consume more than three quarters of lithium production.

Trace amounts of lithium are present in all organisms. The element serves no apparent vital biological function, since animals and plants survive in good health without it, though non-vital functions have not been ruled out. The lithium ion Li administered as any of several lithium salts has proved to be useful as a mood-stabilizing drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder in humans.

Lithium compounds, also known as lithium salts are primarily used as a psychiatric medication. This includes in the treatment of major depressive disorder that does not improve following the use of other antidepressants and bipolar disorder. In these disorders, it reduces the risk of suicide. Lithium is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include increased urination, shakiness of the hands, and increased thirst. Serious side effects include hypothyroidism, diabetes insipidus, and lithium toxicity. Blood level monitoring is recommended to decrease the risk of potential toxicity. If levels become too high, diarrhea, vomiting, poor coordination, sleepiness, and ringing in the ears may occur. If used during pregnancy, lithium can cause problems for the baby. It appears to be safe to use while breastfeeding. Lithium salts are classified as mood stabilizers. How they work is not specifically known.

In the 1800s, lithium was used in people who had gout, epilepsy, and cancer. Its use in the treatment of mental illness began in 1948 by John Cade in Australia. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world in 2014 was between 0.12 and 0.20 USD per day. In the United States at usual doses it costs about 0.90 to 1.20 USD per day.