Understanding the Elements of the Periodic Table

Lithium, comes from the Greek word lithos, meaning “stone.” When alloyed with other elements, such as aluminum or other metals, lithium makes alloys strong and light for use in airplanes and spacecraft. The red sparks seen in fireworks are created by adding lithium compounds to the firework materials. An explanation of lithium compounds and two experiments involving the color of lithium’s flame and the use of lithium chloride as a drying agent are presented.