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Lithium (from the Latin *lithos*, meaning "stone") is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal that belongs to group 1 of the periodic table. Known for its low density, lithium is the least dense metal and the lightest solid element at standard temperature and pressure. It is highly reactive, particularly with water, producing hydrogen gas and lithium hydroxide.

Discovered in 1817 by Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson, lithium was first isolated in pure form in 1821 by William Thomas Brande and Sir Humphry Davy through electrolysis. Due to its reactivity, lithium is never found uncombined in nature but occurs primarily in minerals such as spodumene, lepidolite, and petalite, as well as in brines and clays. The largest commercial sources of lithium are located in salt flats, particularly in South America, including the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Lithium has diverse industrial applications. It is a key component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which power portable electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage systems. The metal is also used in the production of high-strength aluminum alloys, ceramics, and glass. In medicine, lithium salts are prescribed to treat bipolar disorder, stabilizing mood swings in affected individuals.

The element plays a role in nuclear fusion research, as lithium-6 and lithium-7 isotopes are used in fusion reactions to produce helium and tritium. Lithium compounds, such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, are utilized in lubricating greases, flame retardants, and air purification systems. Due to its low density and high reactivity, lithium is stored under mineral oil or inert atmospheres to prevent exposure to air or moisture.