A cracked lithium crystal | |
| Name: | Lithium |
| Symbol: | Li |
| Atomic number: | 3 |
| Atomic weight: | 3 |
Lithium is a chemical element, number 3 on the periodic table. It is the lightest alkali metal on the table, with an atomic weight of 3. (TNG: "Rascals")
A special crystal form of this element has a structure resembling quartz and was considered sufficient for use in early warp cores. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", TOS: "Mudd's Women") However dilithium, a derivative of lithium, is now the standard in all warp technology.
Lithium was used to build computer chips before isolinear components were invented.
- Lithium was originally used as the basis of warp technology. However, lithium is a real element with known properties. Dilithium was invented to allow for a fuel material with unknown properties.