Lithium metal is a silvery-white light metal; melting point is 180.54°C, boiling point 1342°C, density 0.534 g/cm? and a hardness of 0.6. Lithium metal is soluble in liquid ammonia.
Lithium and other alkali metals are different, at room temperature and water reaction is relatively slow, but can be reacted with nitrogen to generate black trilithium monoazide crystals. The weak acid salts of lithium are all insoluble in water. Of the alkali metal chlorides, only lithium chloride is soluble in organic solvents. The volatile salt of lithium has a deep red flame, which can be used to identify lithium.
Lithium is easy to oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and other compounds, in the metallurgical industry can be used as a deoxidizer. Lithium can also do lead-based alloys and beryllium, magnesium, aluminum and other light alloys. Lithium has an important use in the atomic energy industry.