Lithium Lithium Lithium (from ) is a chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and is stored in mineral oil. When cut, it exhibits a metallic luster, but moist air corrodes it quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish. It never occurs freely in nature, but only in (usually ionic) compounds, such as pegmatitic minerals which were once the main source of lithium. Due to its solubility
Vapor pressures of the elements (data page) Vapor pressures of the elements (data page) David R. Lide (ed), "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84th Edition". CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, 2003; Section 6, Fluid Properties; Vapor Pressure David R. Lide (ed), "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84th Edition", online version. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, 2003; Section 4, Properties of the Elements and Inorganic Compounds; Vapor Pressure of the Metallic Elements National Physical Laboratory, "Kaye and Laby Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants"; Section 3.4.4, D. Ambrose, Vapour pressures from 0.2 to 101.325 kPa. Retrieved Jan 2006. W.E. Forsythe (ed.), "Smithsonian Physical Tables 9th ed.",