Element 3 · Alkali Metal
Lithium
The lightest metal — and now the most strategically valuable energy material on the planet thanks to lithium-ion batteries.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
Li
ATOMIC NO.
3
ATOMIC WEIGHT
6.94
CATEGORY
Alkali Metal
PERIOD
Period 2
GROUP
Group 1
Quick Overview
Lithium is element 3, the lightest metal and the third lightest element overall. It was first identified in 1817 by Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson. Pure lithium is so reactive it must be stored under oil to prevent reaction with moisture in the air. Lithium's strategic importance has exploded since 2010 due to lithium-ion battery technology dominating electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and grid energy storage. Australia, Chile, and China dominate primary lithium production from brine deposits and spodumene ore.
Discovery & History
Lithium has been used in lubricating greases (lithium soap thickeners), specialty glasses and ceramics, and as a mood stabiliser in psychiatric medicine since the 1950s. Aircraft aluminium-lithium alloys reduce weight in aerospace structures.
Where It's Used
Lithium-ion batteries account for over 80% of current lithium demand. Every electric vehicle contains 8–10kg of lithium in its battery pack. Grid-scale battery storage installations consume large quantities. Smaller uses include glass and ceramics manufacture, lubricants, and pharmaceuticals.
Can You Sell It?
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Lithium:
Pure lithium is highly reactive and dangerous to handle — it ignites in moist air and reacts violently with water. Recycling lithium occurs only at specialised end-of-life battery recyclers (such as Britishvolt-licensed facilities and Veolia's Hartlepool plant) using complex hydrometallurgical processes. There is no consumer-scale or general scrap-yard market for lithium because the form factor (sealed within battery cells) requires specialist disassembly. We do not currently accept lithium-ion batteries — these must go to dedicated battery recycling channels for safety and regulatory reasons.
Price Guide
Lithium carbonate prices spiked from around $7,000/tonne in 2020 to over $80,000/tonne in late 2022 before crashing back to around $13,000–18,000 by 2024–2025 as supply expanded faster than demand.