Metals in Medicine

Lithium treats mental illness

Lithium is the lightest metal. It is in the group of alkali metals in the Periodic table. Alkali metals are very reactive in water, producing hydrogen gas.

Periodic table with Lithium highlighted

Reaction of Lithium with Water

You may be surprised, therefore, to learn that lithium is a widely used medicine to treat manic depression and other mental illnesses. How can it be taken into the body if it reacts with water? In the medicine, lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is used. Li₂CO₃ dissociates in water to give lithium ions (Li⁺) which are a charged form of lithium. It is this form of lithium which acts as a medicine.

Dissociation of Lithium Carbonate

From the equation, you can see that when Li₂CO₃ breaks down in water to give lithium ions, carbonate ions (CO₃^2-) are also produced. Are these safe to put in our bodies? YES, we drink carbonate ions in fizzy drinks!!

Next - Carbonate - Why Are Fizzy Drinks Bad for our Teeth?

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Metals Are Essential for Life - Lithium treats mental illness - Carbonate - Why Are Fizzy Drinks Bad for our Teeth? - Iron compounds are essential to life - Iron Makes Our blood red - How Do We Get Energy From Oxygen? - Iron is Used to Make Steel - Platinum is Used in Treating Cancer - Cis and Trans? - Titanium is used to make hip replacements - Barium is used to see inside our bodies - Lead: a toxic metal that protects us from x-rays

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