NCERT Notes on important GK topics for the UPSC civil services exam, NDA, CDS, CAPF, AFCAT. This article is about Lithium & Lithium Triangle. Also know the various applications and uses of lithium in India. Check Other NCERT Notes Here
The 'Lithium Triangle' is a region of the Andes which is rich in lithium reserves around the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. This area is thought to hold around 54% of the world's lithium reserves. Australia is by far the world's top producer of lithium, while Chile holds the largest lithium reserves in the world. Also Read Expected GK Questions with Explained Answers
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar de Atacama in Chile and Salar de Arizaro in Argentina contain over 45% of known global lithium reserves.
About Lithium:
Lithium is a chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.
Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element.
Lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and is stored in mineral oil.
Due to its solubility as an ion, it is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines.
While it has one of the lowest melting points among all metals (180 °C, 453 K), it has the highest melting and boiling points of the alkali metals.
Lithium has a mass specific heat capacity of 3.58 kilojoules per kilogram-kelvin, the highest of all solids. Because of this, lithium metal is often used in coolants for heat transfer applications.
Uses of Lithium:
Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease lubricants, flux additives for iron, steel and aluminium production, lithium batteries, and lithium-ion batteries.
It works with other elements, drugs, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, and growth factors in the body in many different ways. People use it for medicine.
Lithium salts have proven to be useful as a mood-stabilizing drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder in humans.
Do You Know? Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) is the world's first Navy to operationalise lithium-ion battery technology on submarines onboard its newest submarine - JS Ouryo. Also Read Indian Defence Gk Notes here
Also Read: NCERT Notes on Important GK Topics for UPSC CDS NDA AFCAT Written Exam
