Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li. It is not found in nature in its pure form but most commonly in igneous rock as well as lithium rich brine in salt lakes. It was first discovered in 1817 by Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson when he analysed petalite ore, but it took a number of scientists to work out how to extract this soft, grey-white, alkaline metal. Australia is the world’s leading producer of lithium, followed by Chile and Argentina.
