Lithium

a metal discovered in 1817. It exists in tourmaline, meteoric stones, mineral waters, coffee, tea, milk, and blood. It is the lightest known solid, being little more than half as heavy as water. It has a bright, silvery, metallic lustre, and melts at 356 deg.F. It resembles potassium in many respects. It can be drawn into a wire and may be welded without heat. Like lead, it may be cut readily with a knife. When burned in oxygen it emits a brilliant red color. Compounds of lithium are used in fireworks on account of the brilliancy they impart to the flame. Its compound with oxygen is called lithia. The latter is a well known ingredient in many mineral waters. The compound known as lithia was discovered in 1817, but the metal was not separated until Bunsen studied its properties in 1855.