3LiLithium6.94[He] 2s¹
alkali metal

Lithium

Lithium (from Greek:λίθος lithos, "stone") is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silver-white metal belonging to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
2s1
Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
3
Atomic mass
6.94 u
Phase
Solid
Density
0.534 g/cm³
Melting point
453.65 K
Boiling point
1,603 K
First ionization energy
520.2 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
0.98
Electron affinity
59.6326 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
24.86 J/(mol·K)
Period
2
Appearance
silvery-white

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

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