Lithium - The Lightest Metal on Earth

Please note that this video was made solely for demonstration purposes! Do not attempt to repeat the experiments shown in this video!
So today, I will tell you about the lightest metal on Earth - Lithium. Lithium is in the first group in the periodic table of chemical elements. Except for the smallest atomic mass, lithium has the lowest density of all metals, which is nearly 2 times lower than that of water. In appearance, lithium represents a shiny metal, which can be cut with a knife, but it would be required to exert sufficient force to achieve that. Lithium rapidly oxidizes in air, and while that is happening it’s being covered with a layer of oxides, carbonates, and lithium nitride black coating because this is the only metal that can react with atmospheric nitrogen at room temperature. Lithium can be stored in kerosene, however, due to its low density it will float on its surface. Now shall we look at some of the chemical properties of lithium. A piece of lithium reacts rather calmly with water, forming hydrogen and lithium hydroxide. If you ignite the released hydrogen, the flames will turn beautifully red, due to lithium ions. However, if we take lithium in the shape of thin lithium foil, which is used in lithium batteries btw, that will ignite and explode upon reaction with water, which is very dangerous. If you set fire to a little piece of lithium, it will melt, and then light up with are very bright white flame to then form lithium oxide during combustion. The temperature of burning Lithium in the air is more than 2,300 degrees Celsius. It is surprising, however, that when it’s melted at temperature above 300 degrees Celsius, lithium practically doesn’t oxidize by the air and its surface remains glossy. Li, as well as all other alkali metals, is an excellent reducing agent that easily loses electrons. If you ignite lithium on sand, it will react with the silica, that the sand consists of, forming an amorphous silicon. In addition, lithium reacts perfectly with sulfur. This reaction of lithium with sulfur formed so much energy that even our can melted, on which the reaction was carried. And yes, I have also burned through the carpet with this reaction, but that's alright, I have many carpets. The other very dangerous lithium property is that when it starts to burn while being on wood, it will pick up oxygen from the cellulose molecules that make up the aforementioned wood. As such lithium explodes, creating a lot of hot sparks. Do NOT try to repeat the experiment! Similarly, lithium can react with dry copper sulfate, recovering copper from its salt. These days Lithium finds many applications in science and technology. The most common use of it, of course, would be lithium-ion batteries and other power sources. Also, lithium is used in nuclear power, lasers, as well as metallurgy. Lithium compounds are used in medicine for the treatment of mental disorders; because of its ability to be an antagonist of sodium ions. Subscribe to my channel to see many more of new and interesting!

[C_Bat]

that carpet joke burns so much, literally

[cpmct]

"But that's alright, I have many carpets" Thoisoi2, 2016

[TheInorganicChemist]

Excellent work! this is what I was looking for. Most of the chemistry youtube channels are only showing the synthesis/extraction of a compound or an element or some usual cool reactions that everyone knows. Most videos do not discuss about the chemical properties of an element or a compound. I like this sort of videos. Hope you will upload more videos like this in future.

[deadaccount]

_"but i have many carpets"_



imagine him saying that with a scary look like a villain

[alterbobo]

A man of many carpets is a trustworthy man

[robinannaniaz]

now I know why russians always hang an extra carpet on the wall xD

[Porglit]

I feel so left out because everyone in the comment section has many carpets, but I only have one ='{

[infinitesimalphilip]

"But it's fine, I have many carpets" lol just do it outside

[moistschmeckles]

"I also burnt the carpet but that's ok, I got many carpets"
Best sentence ever

[ulfsarksvartblot]

can you make a playlist with every element on the periodic table? would be so nice

[flatbg]

1:20 Good thing you're wearing gloves! Oh wait... ;)

[arkitson]

"But that is alright; I have many carpets!"

[royjonesrampage]

i love this channel! gives you so much info in such a short time!

[brianfaulkner]

So informative for someone with zero knowledge of the subject but the carpets comment is so funny and well timed it stands out to me and is the top 3-5 comments, lol. The power of words

[ethanfranklin]

I never bored
Whenever I watch your videos

[SEDahle]

"But that is ok, I have many carpets..." 😁😁😁

[nejatahmed]

I really love you man! keep it up, good job!!!

[PedroTRamos]

This morning, my gf told me she was leaving me to be with my best friend.
But its alright. I have lots of girlfriends.

[bskura]

2:54 The bug is like "OH FUCK NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN TIME TO GET THE F OUT OF HERE".

[surq]

Native tribes were given waters rich in lithium to their warriors because it treated what we now call bi-polar disorder. It is still a medication to this day for people with mood and behavior disorders. I only found this out very recently but I found it extremely fascinating. Many believe that natural medicines can be as effective, if not more so than their synthesized counterparts and as I begin to learn more and more, I find it to be accurate.