is lithium unsafe? if so what are the hazards???

Question

i'm doing a science project and it is asking me for it's hazards plus it modern day price ect, ect, ect,.... please help!!

Answer 1

Metallic lithium is highly reactive, it will readily combine with water and release hydrogen that will immediately combust in the presence of air because of the heat of the reaction.
Once oxydized, lithium oxyde is also capable of reacting with water, and is thus a hazardeous material.
Lithium hydroxide is a strong alcali, and its corrosive property make it also a dangerous substance to handle.
Lithium cabonate is used in minute quantities as a mood stabilizer fo people with physchiatric disorder, in large quantity it is however considered toxic. Other lithium salts can be substitude for lithium carbonate that are not considered toxic.

Answer 2

lithium nitrate is very unstable explosive. When doing reaction with lithium, do not use nitrogen gas...use Argon instead.

Lithium reacts with oxygen from the air to form black lithium oxide (Li2O). It therefore has to be stored under the cover of oil to stop this oxidation reaction from occurring.

Lithium metal is flammable and potentially explosive when exposed to air and especially water, though it is far less dangerous than other alkali metals in this regard.

The lithium-water reaction at normal temperatures is brisk but not violent. Lithium metal is a corrosive and requires special handling to avoid skin contact. The metal itself is usually less a handling hazard than the caustic hydroxide produced when it is in contact with moisture. Lithium should be stored in a non-reactive compound such as naphtha or a hydrocarbon.

Answer 3

If you don't know the answer to that question in the context in which you're using it, then you probably shouldn't try whatever it is you're doing without proper supervision. There are circumstances where it's safe and others where it isn't it depends on what you're doing with it in the reaction, for example the gentleman before me spoke of lithium nitrate, that's true.

Answer 4

well if we look on the periodic table we can easily answer the question. just think about what else is in the same family and how they react with water