This dry climate causes these lakes to evaporate, leaving behind the crystallised salts you see at the salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni and at the Salar de Atacama, in the middle of the Atacama desert - the driest place on earth. The Salar de Atacama is not as picturesque as the Salar de Uyuni because of the dust that blows in from the surrounding desert, but it is the biggest single source of lithium currently being mined.
So why is the Salar de Uyuni virtually untouched while this place is so busy? The Atacama deposit is richer in lithium than Uyuni and is easier to exploit because it is nearer the sea and, instead of stuck at the top of a mountain range, it is on a flat plain. That makes the roads and infrastructure needed for export much cheaper.
The Salar de Atacama is controlled by a government in Santiago that has a long and happy working relationship with the foreign mining companies who have exploited Chile's largest mineral resource, copper. Contrast that with the radical-left Bolivian government which has vowed not to sell out to Western companies - assuming those Western companies would trust the government not to expropriate them. But, if the world is to meet the future demand, other deposits will need to be opened up.
Most are in problematic locations - Tibet, Afghanistan, and of course Bolivia. If the Bolivian government can learn to work with foreigners who have the necessary expertise and deep pockets to bring the stuff to market, then the Salar de Uyuni could prove a bonanza for one of the poorest countries in South America.
And the Bolivians have just begun a pilot mining project. So visit this incredible location now, if you can, because there may not be much left of it once the lithium miners have finished their work. Listen to the latest from Business Daily or browse the podcast archive. Phosphorus: Looming fertility crisis. Helium: Time to ban party balloons? Aluminium: It just keeps on giving. Fairtrade Foundation. Image source, Science Photo Library. The human body does as well.
How this happens remains something of a mystery. How a lithium-ion battery works. Image source, Other. It is conventional with lithium batteries to refer to the negative electrode as the anode, and the positive electrode as the cathode. The two electrodes, with an electrically insulating separator between them, are often rolled up like a Swiss roll.
Lithium and its chemical compounds exhibit a broad range of beneficial properties including:. As a result, lithium is used in numerous applications which can be divided into two broad categories: chemical applications and technical applications. Lithium can be processed to form a variety of chemicals, including lithium carbonate, lithium bromide, lithium chloride, butyl lithium and lithium hydroxide. The fastest growing and second-largest market for lithium globally is for use in batteries.
Talison Lithium produces a chemical-grade lithium concentrate which is ultimately used in lithium batteries. Primary non-rechargeable : including coin or cylindrical batteries used in calculators and digital cameras. Lithium batteries have a higher energy density compared to alkaline batteries, as well as low weight and a long shelf and operating life. Secondary rechargeable : key current applications for lithium batteries are in powering cell phones, laptops, other hand held electronic devices, power tools and large format batteries for electricity grid stabilisation.
The advantages of the lithium secondary battery are its higher energy density and lighter weight compared to nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Electrification of vehicles is strongly supported by governments around the world due to the increasing political and consumer focus on climate change and energy security.
Burning sensation. Shock or collapse. Effects of short-term exposure : The substance is corrosive to the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract.
Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation of the substance may cause lung oedema. The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation is therefore essential. Routes of exposure : The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion. Chemical dangers: Heating may cause violent combustion or explosion. The substance may spontaneously ignite on contact with air when finely dispersed.
Upon heating, toxic fumes are formed. Reacts violently with strong oxidants, acids and many compounds hydrocarbons, halogens, halons, concrete, sand and asbestos causing fire and explosion hazard.
Reacts violently with water, forming highly flammable hydrogen gas and corrosive fumes of lithium hydroxide. Metallic lithium will react with nitrogen , oxygen , and water vapor in air. Lithium hydroxide represents a potentially significant hazard because it is extremely corrosive. Special attention should be given to water organisms. Learn Chemistry : Your single route to hundreds of free-to-access chemistry teaching resources. We hope that you enjoy your visit to this Site.
We welcome your feedback. Data W. Haynes, ed. Version 1. Coursey, D. Schwab, J. Tsai, and R. Dragoset, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions version 4. Periodic Table of Videos , accessed December Podcasts Produced by The Naked Scientists. Download our free Periodic Table app for mobile phones and tablets. Explore all elements. D Dysprosium Dubnium Darmstadtium. E Europium Erbium Einsteinium.
F Fluorine Francium Fermium Flerovium. G Gallium Germanium Gadolinium Gold. I Iron Indium Iodine Iridium. K Krypton. O Oxygen Osmium Oganesson. U Uranium. V Vanadium. X Xenon. Y Yttrium Ytterbium. Z Zinc Zirconium. Membership Become a member Connect with others Supporting individuals Supporting organisations Manage my membership.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube. Discovery date. Discovered by. Johan August Arfvedson. Origin of the name. The name is derived from the Greek 'lithos' meaning stone. Melting point. Boiling point. Atomic number. Relative atomic mass. Key isotopes. Electron configuration. CAS number.
ChemSpider ID. ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database. Electronegativity Pauling scale. Common oxidation states. Atomic mass. Half life. Mode of decay. Relative supply risk. Crustal abundance ppm. Top 3 producers. Top 3 reserve holders. Political stability of top producer.
Political stability of top reserve holder. Young's modulus GPa. Shear modulus GPa. Bulk modulus GPa. Vapour pressure. Temperature K. Pressure Pa. Listen to Lithium Podcast. Transcript : Chemistry in its element: lithium Promo You're listening to Chemistry in its element brought to you by Chemistry World , the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. End promo Chris Smith Hello, this week to the element that tops group one and gives us lighter aircraft and armoured plating.
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