Discover the Spark: Top 12 Electrifying Fun Facts About Lithium

1. Lithium-ion Batteries: The High Voltage Heroes

Move over, Energizer Bunny, lithium-ion batteries have got some serious voltage va-va-voom: Boasting a high power-to-weight ratio, these lightweight MVPs not only power up our beloved cell phones and laptops, but are also the driving force behind today's electric vehicles, with researchers going full throttle to make them even more cost-effective and sustainable.
Source => afdc.energy.gov

2. Smooth Criminal: Lithium and Suicide Prevention

Hey lithium, you're a smooth criminal when it comes to moonwalking away from suicide: Lithium, a common medication used for bipolar disorder, has been proven to significantly lower suicidal risks, helping stabilize mood swings and prevent future manic or depressive episodes, despite side effects like hand tremors, increased thirst, and weight gain for up to 75% of users - but it's all about keeping that groove going with regular blood tests to monitor kidney, thyroid function, and lithium levels.
Source => webmd.com

Discover the secret behind the noble gases' unreactive nature on the periodic table, and find out why helium, the ultimate party-crasher, barely reacts with other elements. Learn how these gases keep it classy with their full outer electron shells!

=> Fun Facts about The-Periodic-Table

3. Lithium-infused H2O: The Fountain of Youth Alternative

Who needs the fountain of youth when you can sip on some lithium-infused H2O: Studies reveal that microdosed lithium, a natural and safe supplement found in drinking water, can potentially increase lifespan, slow down aging, and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, making it a worthy and refreshing alternative to your daily multivitamin.
Source => novoslabs.com

4. Lithium: The Transformer Balloon of Elements

Imagine if balloons could have a mid-life crisis, lift weights, and become the densest form of their former selves; well, lithium wouldn't be too far off: The lightest of metals and least dense solid element, lithium refuses to freeze even down to 190 K, exhibiting fascinating properties that include the potential for a superconducting liquid, thanks to its low atomic mass and increased zero-point energy under high pressures.
Source => efree.carnegiescience.edu

5. Lithium-air Batteries: The Swanky Teslas of Battery Town

Who knew batteries could guzzle energy almost as well as a sports car does gas? Well, introducing the swanky "Tesla" of batteries: Lithium-air batteries have the potential for high theoretical energy density, comparable to gasoline and much higher than current battery technology, although they still face technical limitations and challenges before becoming the envy of battery town.
Source => sciencedirect.com

6. Bib-Label Lithiated 7 Up: The Soda Therapist

Before pop culture prescribed "a spoonful of sugar," 7 Up doused its fizzy self with a salty touch of psychiatric aid: The original 7 Up soda, known as Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda, contained lithium citrate, which was used to treat bipolar disorder, depression, and mania, rather than simply uplifting one's mood, and its formula was eventually altered to remove the mood-boosting compound, leaving the "7" in its name to puzzle beverage fans ever since.
Source => mcgill.ca

7. Bazinga! Lithium's Big Bang Origins

Bazinga! That's not just what Sheldon Cooper exclaims on The Big Bang Theory, but also the secret password to the mysterious world of lithium's origins: Lithium, unlike other elements like carbon and iron, didn't need to hop onto the stellar nucleosynthesis train to be created – it was already there, as one of the original gangsters from the Big Bang itself! In a classic "started-from-the-bottom-now-we-here" moment, lithium owes its existence to the monumental process of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, weaving its unique journey through the fabric of the universe.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Lithium Grease: The World Champ of Lubricants

Get ready to slide right into this fun fact smoother than a penguin on a luge: lithium grease is the undisputed world champ of lubricants, thanks to its stellar metal adhesion, non-corrosive nature, heavy-load aptitude, and dauntless resistance to both water and heat, making it the go-to choice for challenging lubrication jobs, especially in the automotive industry.
Source => greasemonkeydirect.com

9. Zombie Nuclear Nightlights for Mars Rovers

Did you know that NASA's Mars rovers essentially have "zombie nuclear nightlights" for energy? These Martian explorers don't need cozy blankets or bedtime stories, just a touch of plutonium-238 to keep going: The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) uses a plutonium-238 heat source and a thermocouple to create electricity by harnessing the temperature difference between the hot and cool sides, thanks to the magic of the Seebeck effect. With a 14-year design life, these Energizer Bunny-like generators outlast many of their Earthly counterparts, leading Mars rovers like Perseverance boldly into the depths of space!
Source => powermag.com

10. Lithium: The Spark in Smoke Detectors

If lithium batteries had a Tinder profile, their tagline would be "I put the spark in smoke detectors": In the First Alert SA305 Smoke Alarm's ionization sensors, lithium serves as the vital power source to ensure long-lasting and continuous flame and smoke detection during fire emergencies.
Source => firstalert.com

11. Colorful Flames: Lithium's Fiery Party Trick

Feeling a bit blue and need to paint the town red? Here's a surefire way to ignite some colorful joy: Simply add lithium chloride or strontium chloride to a fire, and watch those flames become a fiery shade of red! But remember, with great power comes great responsibility, so handle these fancy flame enhancers with care as they may possess toxic traits.
Source => sciencenotes.org

12. Lithium: The Peter Pan Pill for Fruit Flies

Feeling a little bipolar about your age? Lithium might just be the Peter Pan pill you never knew you needed: This magical element, commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, can actually extend lifespan and promote health in Drosophila (fruit flies!) by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF-2), paving the way for potential anti-aging treatments in the future.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov