lithium carbonate definition of lithium carbonate in the Free Online Encyclopedia. [Gr.,=stone], metallic chemical element; symbol Li; at. no. 3; at. wt. 6.941; m.p. about 180.54 ; b.p. about 1,342 ; sp. gr. .534 at 20 ; valence +1. Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal. It is one of the alkali metals. It is the least dense metal. Because it has high specific heat, it has found some use in cooling systems for nuclear reactors; such use is limited because lithium is very corrosive. Lithium metal is prepared by electrolysis of fused lithium chloride. Lithium reacts with water less readily than sodium. It burns in air with a brilliant white flame.
