over the course of human history fuel
for industry has come in many forms
but one of the major drivers of
development in the current technological
age is a highly volatile element that
makes up only point zero zero two
percent of the Earth’s crust such a rare
commodity has become the bedrock
industry and made the key to the future
a civilization
[Music]
lithium a soft silver gray metal is the
third lightest element in the universe
originally discovered in 1817 in a piece
of volcanic stone lithium was named
after the Greek word for stone lithos
ever since its discovery lithium has
been found to be incredibly versatile
including strengthening glass and
refining metal alloys but probably the
most popular use of lithium is in
lithium batteries holding a charge for
longer than traditional batteries
lithium batteries are often used to
power devices as small as smartphones
and laptops
and as large as electric vehicles the
versatility of lithium has helped
catapult many technological developments
largely due to the metals unique
chemical properties lithium is
classified as an alkaline metal when
combined with water the metal forms
alkalis or chemicals that stabilize
acidic solutions
additionally lithium is heat resistant
having extraordinarily high melting and
boiling points causing it to be capable
of storing large amounts of energy
lithium is also highly reactive and that
it readily loses one of its electrons to
form new bonds thereby creating positive
charge altogether these properties allow
the metal to serve as the receiving
point of negatively charged particles
helping create a powerful electrical
but because of lithium’s reactivity it
does not naturally occur in its pure
elemental metal form it’s often found as
a component of chemical compounds and
sourced from hard rock minerals seawater
or salt water reservoirs called brines
lithium deposits are scattered around
the globe but over 75% of the world’s
entire supply of lithium is found in
Chile and Bolivia within the past few
decades the presence of lithium in these
South American countries has drawn the
attention of federal and commercial
entities from around the world hoping to
extract one of the most sought-after
natural resources on the planet
by extracting a natural resource as
valuable as lithium these entities may
fuel and help shape the future of
technology and industry [Music]
for industry has come in many forms
but one of the major drivers of
development in the current technological
age is a highly volatile element that
makes up only point zero zero two
percent of the Earth’s crust such a rare
commodity has become the bedrock
industry and made the key to the future
a civilization
[Music]
lithium a soft silver gray metal is the
third lightest element in the universe
originally discovered in 1817 in a piece
of volcanic stone lithium was named
after the Greek word for stone lithos
ever since its discovery lithium has
been found to be incredibly versatile
including strengthening glass and
refining metal alloys but probably the
most popular use of lithium is in
lithium batteries holding a charge for
longer than traditional batteries
lithium batteries are often used to
power devices as small as smartphones
and laptops
and as large as electric vehicles the
versatility of lithium has helped
catapult many technological developments
largely due to the metals unique
chemical properties lithium is
classified as an alkaline metal when
combined with water the metal forms
alkalis or chemicals that stabilize
acidic solutions
additionally lithium is heat resistant
having extraordinarily high melting and
boiling points causing it to be capable
of storing large amounts of energy
lithium is also highly reactive and that
it readily loses one of its electrons to
form new bonds thereby creating positive
charge altogether these properties allow
the metal to serve as the receiving
point of negatively charged particles
helping create a powerful electrical
but because of lithium’s reactivity it
does not naturally occur in its pure
elemental metal form it’s often found as
a component of chemical compounds and
sourced from hard rock minerals seawater
or salt water reservoirs called brines
lithium deposits are scattered around
the globe but over 75% of the world’s
entire supply of lithium is found in
Chile and Bolivia within the past few
decades the presence of lithium in these
South American countries has drawn the
attention of federal and commercial
entities from around the world hoping to
extract one of the most sought-after
natural resources on the planet
by extracting a natural resource as
valuable as lithium these entities may
fuel and help shape the future of
technology and industry [Music]
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