Although it is a metal, it is soft enough to cut with a knife. It is so light that it can float on water. Lithium fires are difficult to put out. You cannot use water because the water will react with the lithium and could make the fire worse. A powder fire extinguisher is required. Along with hydrogen and helium, lithium was one of the three elements produced in large quantities by the Big Bang. When burning, lithium gives off a bright red flame. Because it is the lightest metal, it can be alloyed with other metals such as aluminum and copper to make metals that are light and strong. Lithium hydroxide can be used to purify air and remove carbon dioxide in spacecraft and submarines. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayLithium makes up only 0.0007% of the Earth's crust, according to the Jefferson Laboratory, and it is only found enclosed in minerals and salts. These salts have the power to change the brain: Lithium salts were the first drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat mania and depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Today, lithium carbonate is the compound most often sold in pharmaceutical form. Oddly enough, no one knows exactly how lithium works to stabilize mood. Studies show multiple effects on the nervous system. In 2008, for example, researchers reported in the journal Cell that lithium disrupted the activity of a receptor for the neurotransmitter dopamine. According to a 2011 study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry (although this research is hotly contested), it also appears to increase brain volume. Lithium-ion batteries are the key to lightweight, rechargeable power for laptops, phones and other digital devices. According to the US Geological Survey, Argentina and Chile increased their lithium production by 15% each in 2014 alone to meet growing demand. Worldwide, production jumped 6 percent that year. The United States has a lithium mine in Nevada, according to the USGS. Chile and Australia produce the most lithium in the world. According to a 2009 study that highlights the role of lithium in the brain, naturally occurring lithium in drinking water correlates with lower levels of suicide. But psychiatrists are cautious about prescribing lithium in high doses, particularly because it can cross the placental barrier and have unknown effects on fetal development. Lithium was one of three elements produced in large quantities during the Big Bang, according to physicists. The others were hydrogen and helium.