It used to be considered a rare element, though as a budding young scientist I had a sample that arrived inside a blue box the size of cigarette pack that arrived in the mail one month. Included was a small yellow booklet with suggested experiments, not that I remember any of them. Gee, that was back in the ‘50s!
Today, of course, lithium has become a household name due to its special applications.
Here are ten considerations:
In its pure state, it’s a soft, silvery-white metal, highly reactive and flammable, requiring careful storage. The lightest of metals, No. 3 on the periodical table of the elements, it can float on water, a quality it shares with sodium and potassium.
It’s highly corrosive, tarnishes rapidly, and is hazardous to the touch.
It’s soft enough to be cut with a knife and has a density comparable to pine wood.
Lithium compounds are the heart of rechargeable batteries for laptops, cell phones, electric cars, and cameras, as well as non-rechargeable batteries.
Industrial applications include lubricants, heat-resistant glass and ceramics, and iron, steel, and aluminum production.
Medically, it’s used as a mood stabilizer, an antidepressant, and other mental health issues.
It serves as a fusion fuel in thermonuclear weapons and is critical to the operation of many nuclear reactors. It’s also used in rocket and torpedo propellants.
It colors some red fireworks and flares and is also used as an air purifier.
Although found in rocks and brines in low concentrations, lithium has few deposits of commercial value. The largest reserves are in Australia, Chile, China, Argentina, Boliva, the Czech Republic, and Afghanistan. Maine is also optimistic about potential mining sites. As for economic value? Think of the next Saudi Arabia.
I don’t do “resolutions,” which all too easily become self-defeating. Goals are more like compass readings when you’re trying to get somewhere and want to leave some flexibility for when problems arise. So here’s what I’d like to improve in my life in the upcoming year.
Be a better listener. That includes asking more questions rather than spewing so many facts.
Do a better job of putting names and faces together and then recalling them with ease. I’ve met a lot of new people since moving Way Downeast. Too often I’m baffled when greeted by name.
Cull my collections of vinyl albums and CDs, books, and private journals. There’s only so much shelf space, even with our home renovations, and no way I can play or read them all in my remaining years. Which leads to …
Indulge in a reading orgy, meaning print on paper: mags, books in general, Bible, and personal journals. Put another way, that means less time at the laptop.
When I am online, I intend to interact more actively with others. Yes, that includes you.
Distill my files of original poetry. There’s a lot to revisit in my 50-plus years of serious writing.
Get out in the wild more regularly. I’m not the hiker I was, but that shouldn’t keep me from pursuing more trails around here or even sitting quietly in the open air.
Explore neighboring Canada. We got a start on that late last year. So far, the border crossings have gone smoothly. I’m hoping Grand Manan, an island reached only by ferry, will be a highlight.
Do a better job of house cleaning. There have been complaints.
Jnana's Red Barn 