Li 3

Lithium (Li)

alkali-metal

Period: 2 Group: 1 Block: s

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

Electron configuration

[He] 2s¹

Melting point

180.5 °C (453.65 K)

Boiling point

1341.85 °C (1615 K)

Density

534 kg/m³

Oxidation states

Electronegativity (Pauling)

0.98

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1817

Atomic radius

145 pm

Details

Name origin Greek: lithos (stone).

Discovery country Sweden

Discoverers Johann Arfwedson

Lithium is the lightest metal and the first alkali metal. It forms Li⁺ very readily, yet its small ion gives lithium chemistry a distinctive hardness, strong hydration, and extensive organometallic chemistry. In nature it occurs only in compounds, mainly in brines, pegmatite minerals, and some clays. Its low atomic mass, high electrochemical potential, and ability to move reversibly through host materials make it central to rechargeable batteries.

Socket silvery metal. First member of group 1 of the periodic table. Lithium salts are used in psychomedicine.

The name derives from the Latin lithos for "stone" because lithium was thought to exist only in minerals at that time. It was discovered by the Swedish mineralogist Johan August Arfwedson in 1818 in the mineral petalite LiAl(Si2O5)2. Lithium was isolated in 1855 by the German chemists Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Augustus Matthiessen.

Lithium was discovered in the mineral petalite (LiAl(Si2O5)2) by Johann August Arfvedson in 1817. It was first isolated by William Thomas Brande and Sir Humphrey Davy through the electrolysis of lithium oxide (Li2O). Today, larger amounts of the metal are obtained through the electrolysis of lithium chloride (LiCl). Lithium is not found free in nature and makes up only 0.0007% of the earth's crust.

From the Greek word lithos, stone. Discovered by Arfvedson in 1817. Lithium is the lightest of all metals, with a density only about half that of water.

Read about Lithium on Wikipedia

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 145 pm

Covalent radius 128 pm

Van der Waals radius 182 pm

Metallic radius 123 pm

Density

Molar volume 0.0131 L/mol

Phase at STP solid

Melting point 180.5 °C

Boiling point 1341.85 °C

Thermal conductivity 84.8 W/(m·K)

Specific heat capacity 3.582 J/(g·K)

Molar heat capacity 24.86 J/(mol·K)

Crystal structure bcc

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 0.98

Electronegativity (Allen) 0.912

Electron affinity

Ionization energy (1st)

Ionization energy (2nd)

Ionization energy (3rd)

Oxidation states +1

Valence electrons 1

Electron configuration

Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Critical point (temperature) 2950 °C

Critical point (pressure) 6.700000e+7 Pa

Heat of fusion 0.03109292 eV

Heat of vaporization 1.524589 eV

Heat of sublimation 1.65207 eV

Heat of atomization 1.65207 eV

Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 2

Discovery year 1817

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 20 mg/kg

Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 349 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 1

Identifiers

CAS number 7439-93-2

Term symbol

InChI InChI=1S/Li

InChI Key WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge

Protons 3

Electrons 3

Charge Neutral

Configuration Li: 2s¹

[He] 2s¹

1s² 2s¹

Orbital diagram

↑↓

2/2

↑

1/2 1↑

Total electrons: 3 Unpaired: 1

Atomic model

Protons 3

Neutrons 4

Electrons 3

Mass number 7

Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life
6 Stable	6.0151228874 ± 0.0000000016	7.5900%	Stable
7 Stable	7.0160034366 ± 0.0000000045	92.4100%	Stable

Measured

Phase / State

Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 155.5 °C below melting point (180.5 °C)

Melting point 180.5 °C

Boiling point 1341.85 °C

Below melting by 155.5 °C

0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K

Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Melting

Boiling

25°C

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature

180.5 °C

Boiling point Literature

1341.85 °C

Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature

0.03109292 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature

1.524589 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature

1.65207 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature

534 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated

534 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Advanced

Critical point Literature

2950 °C

Atomic Spectra

Lines Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Total lines	Transition probabilities	Level designations
Li I	0	344	257	328
Li II	+1	663	564	630
Li III	+2	144	144	144

NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Levels
Li I	0	182
Li II	+1	179
Li III	+2	149

NIST Levels Holdings →

3 Li 6.967499999999999

Lithium — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[He]2s1

Energy levels 2 1

Oxidation states +1

HOMO 2s n=2 · l=0 · m=0

Lithium — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview

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3 Li 6.967499999999999

Lithium — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Body-Centered Cubic · Pearson cI2

Experimental

Pearson cI2

Coord. № 8

Packing 68.000%

Lithium — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview

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Ionic Radii

Charge	Coordination	Spin	Radius
+1	4	N/A	59 pm
+1	6	N/A	76 pm
+1	8	N/A	92 pm

Compounds

7.000 u

Li+

7.000 u

6.015 u

7.016 u

9.027 u

Isotopes (2)

	Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay mode
	6 Stable	6.0151228874 ± 0.0000000016	7.5900% ± 0.0400%	Stable	stable
	7 Stable	7.0160034366 ± 0.0000000045	92.4100% ± 0.0400%	Stable	stable

6 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 6.0151228874 ± 0.0000000016

Natural abundance 7.5900% ± 0.0400%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

7 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 7.0160034366 ± 0.0000000045

Natural abundance 92.4100% ± 0.0400%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

Spectral Lines

Wavelength (nm)	Intensity	Ion stage	Type	Transition	Accuracy	Source
383.559 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.7s 2S	Measured	NIST
383.564 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.7s 2S	Measured	NIST
387.8838 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.2s 3S → 1s.2p 1P*	Measured	NIST
391.5292 nm	20	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.6d 2D	Measured	NIST
391.5342 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.6d 2D	Measured	NIST
391.5344 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.6d 2D	Measured	NIST
398.5481 nm	10	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.6s 2S	Measured	NIST
398.5535 nm	10	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.6s 2S	Measured	NIST
413.2557 nm	40	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.5d 2D	Measured	NIST
413.2613 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.5d 2D	Measured	NIST
413.2615 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.5d 2D	Measured	NIST
415.519 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3s 1S → 1s.4p 1P*	Measured	NIST
419.115 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3s 1S → 1s.4d 1D	Measured	NIST
427.306 nm	20	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.5s 2S	Measured	NIST
427.312 nm	20	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.5s 2S	Measured	NIST
432.21 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 1D	Measured	NIST
432.226 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 1D	Measured	NIST
432.53 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
432.54 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
432.542 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
432.554 nm	5	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
432.562 nm	1	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
432.578 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
449.8225057 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4p 2P* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.8277799 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4s 2S → 5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
449.8581249 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4p 2P* → 5s 2S	Measured	NIST
449.866202 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4s 2S → 5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
449.8846443 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5f 2F*	Measured	NIST
449.8847466 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4p 2P* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.897364 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
449.8975539 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4p 2P* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.9032229 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5g 2G	Measured	NIST
449.9032561 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5f 2F*	Measured	NIST
449.9095915 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.90966 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5f 2F*	Measured	NIST
449.9118883 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5g 2G	Measured	NIST
449.9157307 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5g 2G	Measured	NIST
449.9220996 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.9223809 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
449.9224003 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4f 2F* → 5d 2D	Measured	NIST
449.933185 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4p 2P* → 5s 2S	Measured	NIST
449.9357979 nm	N/A	Li III	emission	4d 2D → 5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
460.282 nm	13	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.4d 2D	Measured	NIST
460.289 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.4d 2D	Measured	NIST
460.289 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.4d 2D	Measured	NIST
463.61 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 1D → 1s.4p 1P*	Measured	NIST
467.14 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 1F*	Measured	NIST
467.153 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 1F*	Measured	NIST
467.163 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.163 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.176 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.176 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.176 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.188 nm	2	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.806 nm	3	Li II	emission	1s.3d 1D → 1s.4f 1F*	Measured	NIST
467.829 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 1D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
467.829 nm	1	Li II	emission	1s.3d 1D → 1s.4f 3F*	Measured	NIST
474.15 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 1P* → 1s.4p 1P*	Measured	NIST
478.836 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 1P* → 1s.4d 1D	Measured	NIST
479.239 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 1P* → 1s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
484.278 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
484.292 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
484.294 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
484.304 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
484.321 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
484.331 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 3D → 1s.4p 3P*	Measured	NIST
488.12 nm	4	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4s 3S	Measured	NIST
488.147 nm	4	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4s 3S	Measured	NIST
488.169 nm	1	Li II	emission	1s.3p 3P* → 1s.4s 3S	Measured	NIST
491.912 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3d 1D → 1s.4s 1S	Measured	NIST
497.166 nm	8	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.4s 2S	Measured	NIST
497.174 nm	8	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.4s 2S	Measured	NIST
503.791 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.3p 1P* → 1s.4s 1S	Measured	NIST
510.8 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 1S → 1s.7p 1P*	Measured	NIST
519.917 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
519.917 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
519.919 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
519.928 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
519.937 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
519.947 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
527 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s.2s.3d 4D → 1s.2p.3d 4D*	Measured	NIST
532.949 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7s 3S	Measured	NIST
532.96 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7s 3S	Measured	NIST
532.98 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.7s 3S	Measured	NIST
539.3 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.7p 1P*	Measured	NIST
540.153 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 1F*	Measured	NIST
540.172 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 1F*	Measured	NIST
540.175 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.186 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.186 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.665 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.7f 1F*	Measured	NIST
540.698 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
540.698 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.7f 3F*	Measured	NIST
541.091 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 1D	Measured	NIST
541.122 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.7d 1D	Measured	NIST
541.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.205 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.225 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.225 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.236 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.237 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
541.256 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.7d 3D	Measured	NIST
546.84 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.7d 1D	Measured	NIST
548.346 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.2s 3S → 1s.2p 3P*	Measured	NIST
548.44 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.2s 3S → 1s.2p 3P*	Measured	NIST
548.509 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.2s 3S → 1s.2p 3P*	Measured	NIST
552.54 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.7s 1S	Measured	NIST
565.388 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 3S → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
565.409 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 3S → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
565.421 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 3S → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
610.353 nm	320	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.3d 2D	Measured	NIST
610.364 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.3d 2D	Measured	NIST
610.366 nm	320	Li I	emission	1s2.2p 2P* → 1s2.3d 2D	Measured	NIST
611.81 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 1S → 1s.6p 1P*	Measured	NIST
613.864 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4s 1S → 1s.6d 1D	Measured	NIST
625.219 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
625.219 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
625.222 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
625.235 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
625.248 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
625.263 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
653.14 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.6p 1P*	Measured	NIST
654.566 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 1F*	Measured	NIST
654.595 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 1F*	Measured	NIST
654.595 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
654.611 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
654.611 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
654.64 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
654.64 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
654.64 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
655.319 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.6f 1F*	Measured	NIST
655.364 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
655.364 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.6f 3F*	Measured	NIST
656.006 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 1D	Measured	NIST
656.052 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.6d 1D	Measured	NIST
656.143 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6s 3S	Measured	NIST
656.16 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6s 3S	Measured	NIST
656.191 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 3P* → 1s.6s 3S	Measured	NIST
656.261 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.261 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.261 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.29 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.29 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.306 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 3F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.307 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
656.336 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4f 1F* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
662.07 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.6p 1P*	Measured	NIST
664.252 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.269 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.281 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.298 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.298 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.298 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 3D → 1s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
664.48 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.6d 1D	Measured	NIST
664.77 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.6d 3D	Measured	NIST
668.73 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4d 1D → 1s.6s 1S	Measured	NIST
670.776 nm	3600	Li I	emission	1s2.2s 2S → 1s2.2p 2P*	Measured	NIST
670.791 nm	3600	Li I	emission	1s2.2s 2S → 1s2.2p 2P*	Measured	NIST
678.09 nm	N/A	Li II	emission	1s.4p 1P* → 1s.6s 1S	Measured	NIST
687.308 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.3s 2S → 1s2.8p 2P*	Measured	NIST
687.308 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.3s 2S → 1s2.8p 2P*	Measured	NIST
713.517 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.3s 2S → 1s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST
713.517 nm	N/A	Li I	emission	1s2.3s 2S → 1s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)

Covalent radius (Bragg)

Van der Waals Radii

Bondi

Batsanov

Alvarez

UFF

MM3

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)

Metallic radius (C12)

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev

Pettifor

Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh

Miedema

Gunnarsson–Lundqvist

Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability

Dipole polarizability (unc.)

C₆

C₆ (Gould–Bučko)

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume

Miedema electron density

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration

Relative supply risk

Reserve distribution

Political stability (top producer)

Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

Melting point	453.65 K
Boiling point	1615.15 K
Critical point (temperature)	3223.15 K
Critical point (pressure)	67 MPa

Oxidation State Categories

+1 main

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (2)

n	Orbital	σ
1	s	0.3094
2	s	1.7208

Crystal Radii Detail (3)

Charge	CN	r_crystal (pm)	Origin
1	IV	73
1	VI	90
1	VIII	106	calculated,

Isotope Decay Modes (17)

Isotope	Mode	Intensity
3	p	—
4	p	100%
5	p	100%
8	B-	100%
8	B-A	100%
9	B-	100%
9	B-n	50.5%
10	n	100%
11	B-	100%
11	B-n	86.3%

X‑ray Scattering Factors (501)

Energy (eV)	f₁	f₂
10	—	0.11642
10.1617	—	0.11743
10.3261	—	0.11844
10.4931	—	0.11947
10.6628	—	0.12051
10.8353	—	0.12155
11.0106	—	0.12261
11.1886	—	0.12367
11.3696	—	0.12444
11.5535	—	0.12502

Additional Data

Estimated Crustal Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's crust.

2.0×101 milligrams per kilogram

References (1)

[5] Lithium https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele003.html

Estimated Oceanic Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's oceans.

1.8×10-1 milligrams per liter

References (1)

[5] Lithium https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele003.html

Sources

Sources of this element.

It does not occur freely in nature; combined, it is found in small units in nearly all igneous rocks and in many mineral springs. Lepidolite, spodumene, petalite, and amblygonite are the more important minerals containing it.

Lithium is presently being recovered from brines of Searles Lake, in California, and from those in Nevada. Large deposits of quadramene are found in North Carolina. The metal is produced electrolytically from the fused chloride. Lithium is silvery in appearance, much like Na, K, and other members of the alkali metal series. It reacts with water, but not as vigorously as sodium. Lithium imparts a beautiful crimson color to a flame, but when the metal burns strongly, the flame is a dazzling white.

References (1)

[6] Lithium https://periodic.lanl.gov/3.shtml

References

(9)

1 PubChem

Data deposited in or computed by PubChem

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2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)

Lithium

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

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4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

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License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.

5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy

Lithium

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

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License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html

6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy

Lithium

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

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7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory

Lithium

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

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8 PubChem Elements

Lithium

This section provides all form of data related to element Lithium.

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9 PubChem Elements

Lithium

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

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Last updated: May 1, 2026

Data verified: May 12, 2026

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.