lithium
UK: ˈlɪθiəm | US: ˈlɪθiəm
n. A soft, silver-white alkali metal, the lightest of all metals, used in batteries, alloys, and nuclear reactors.
n. (Pharmacy) A medication containing lithium salts, used to treat bipolar disorder.
lithium = lith<stone> + ium<chemical element suffix>
- lith (from Greek lithos, meaning "stone")
- ium (a suffix used in chemistry to denote metallic elements)
Etymology Origin:
The word lithium was coined in 1817 by Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson, who discovered the element in the mineral petalite. The name reflects its origin from lithos (stone), as it was the first alkali metal isolated from a mineral rather than plant ash. The suffix -ium follows the naming convention for metallic elements (e.g., sodium, potassium).
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in smartphones and electric vehicles.
The psychiatrist prescribed lithium to stabilize the patient's mood swings.
Lithium is highly reactive and must be stored in mineral oil.
Australia is one of the world's largest producers of lithium.
The geologist identified traces of lithium in the granite sample.