Editing Lithium carbonate (section)

==Uses==
Lithium carbonate is an important [[Industrial sector|industrial]] [[chemical]]. Its main use is as a precursor to compounds used in lithium-ion batteries.

Glasses derived from lithium carbonate are useful in ovenware. Lithium carbonate is a common ingredient in both low-fire and high-fire [[ceramic glaze]]. It forms low-melting [[Flux (metallurgy)|flux]]es with [[silica]] and other materials.  Its [[alkaline]] properties are conducive to changing the state of metal oxide colorants in [[Ceramic glaze|glaze]], particularly red iron oxide ({{chem|Fe|2|O|3}}). Cement sets more rapidly when prepared with lithium carbonate, and is useful for tile [[adhesive]]s. When added to [[aluminium trifluoride]], it forms [[Lithium fluoride|LiF]] which yields a superior [[electrolyte]] for the processing of [[aluminium]].<ref name=Ullmann>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Ulrich Wietelmann |author2=Richard J. Bauer |title=Lithium and Lithium Compounds|encyclopedia=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry|year=2005|publisher=Wiley-VCH|location=Weinheim|doi=10.1002/14356007.a15_393|isbn=3-527-30673-0}}</ref>

===Rechargeable batteries===

Lithium carbonate-derived compounds are crucial to [[lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]]. Lithium carbonate may be converted into [[lithium hydroxide]] as an intermediate.  In practice, two components of the battery are made with lithium compounds: the [[cathode]] and the [[electrolyte]]. The electrolyte is a solution of [[lithium hexafluorophosphate]], while the cathode uses one of several lithiated structures, the most popular of which are [[lithium cobalt oxide]] and [[lithium iron phosphate]].

[[File:Lithium prices.webp|thumb|center|Lithium prices]]

===Medical uses===
{{main|Lithium (medication)}}
In 1843, lithium carbonate was used to treat stones in the [[bladder]]. In 1859, some doctors recommended a therapy with lithium [[Salt (chemistry)|salts]] for a number of [[Disease|ailments]], including [[gout]], [[urinary calculi]], [[rheumatism]], [[mania]], [[depression (mood)|depression]], and [[headache]].

In 1948, [[John Cade]] discovered the anti-manic effects of lithium ions.<ref name="who-cade-treat-mania">{{Cite journal |last=Cade|first=J. F. |date=2000 |title=Lithium salts in the treatment of psychotic excitement. 1949. |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=78 |issue=4 |pages=518–520 |issn=0042-9686 |pmc=2560740 |pmid=10885180 }}</ref> This finding led to lithium carbonate's use as a [[psychiatric medication]] to treat mania, the elevated phase of [[bipolar disorder]]. Prescription lithium carbonate from a [[pharmacy]] is suitable for use as medicine in humans but industrial lithium carbonate is not since it may contain unsafe levels of [[toxic heavy metal]]s or other [[toxicant]]s. After ingestion, lithium carbonate is [[Dissociation (chemistry)|dissociated]] into [[pharmacologically active]] [[lithium]] ions (Li<sup>+</sup>) and (non-therapeutic) [[carbonate]], with 300&nbsp;[[milligram|mg]] of lithium carbonate containing approximately 8&nbsp;[[Milliequivalents|mEq]] (8&nbsp;[[mmol]]) of lithium ion.<ref name=FDALithiumCarbonateHighlights>{{Cite web|title=Lithium Carbonate Medication Guide|url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/017812s031,018421s031,018558s026lbl.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220127181022/https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/017812s034,018421s033,018558s028lbl.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2022|access-date=27 January 2022|website=U.S. FDA}}</ref> According to the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA), 300–600&nbsp;mg of lithium carbonate taken two to three times daily is typical for maintenance of bipolar I disorder in adults,<ref name=FDALithiumCarbonateHighlights /> where the exact dose given varies depending on factors such as the patient's serum lithium concentrations, which must be closely monitored by a [[physician]] to avoid [[lithium toxicity]] and potential [[kidney damage]] (or even [[kidney failure]]) from [[Lithium (medication)#Kidney damage|lithium-induced]] [[nephrogenic diabetes insipidus]].<ref name=Amdisen1978>{{cite journal|author=Amdisen A.|title=Clinical and serum level monitoring in lithium therapy and lithium intoxication|journal=J. Anal. Toxicol.|volume=2|issue=5|pages=193–202|year=1978|doi=10.1093/jat/2.5.193}}</ref><ref name=FDALithiumCarbonateHighlights /> [[Dehydration]] and certain drugs, including [[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug|NSAIDs]] such as [[ibuprofen]], can increase serum lithium concentrations to unsafe levels whereas other drugs, such as [[caffeine]], may decrease concentrations.  In contrast to the elemental ions [[Sodium in biology|sodium]], [[Potassium in biology|potassium]], and [[Calcium in biology|calcium]], there is no known cellular mechanism specifically dedicated to regulating [[intracellular]] lithium. 
Lithium can enter cells through [[epithelial sodium channel]]s.<ref name=UpToDateRenalToxicity /> Lithium ions interfere with ion transport processes {{crossreference|(see "[[Sodium pump]]")}} that relay and amplify messages carried to the cells of the brain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medicinenet.com/lithium/article.htm |title=lithium, Lithobid: Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosing |website=Medicinenet.com |date=2016-06-17 |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-date=2016-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231153214/http://www.medicinenet.com/lithium/article.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Mania is associated with irregular increases in [[protein kinase C]] (PKC) activity within the brain. Lithium carbonate and [[sodium valproate]], another drug traditionally used to treat the disorder, act in the brain by inhibiting PKC's activity and help to produce other compounds that also inhibit the PKC.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yildiz |first1=A |last2=Guleryuz |first2=S |last3=Ankerst |first3=DP |last4=Ongür |first4=D |last5=Renshaw |first5=PF |title=Protein kinase C inhibition in the treatment of mania: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tamoxifen |journal=Archives of General Psychiatry |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=255–63 |year=2008 |pmid=18316672 |doi=10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2007.43 |url=http://mediatum.ub.tum.de/doc/1185490/document.pdf |doi-access=free }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Lithium carbonate's mood-controlling properties are not fully understood.<ref>[https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/lithium_carbonate Lithium Carbonate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219001229/https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/lithium_carbonate |date=2018-12-19 }} at PubChem</ref>

====Health risks====

Taking [[lithium salts]] has risks and side effects.  Extended use of lithium to treat mental disorders has been known to lead to acquired [[nephrogenic diabetes insipidus]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Richard T. Timmer |author2=Jeff M. Sands |url=http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/10/3/666.short |title=Lithium Intoxication |journal=Journal of the American Society of Nephrology |date=1999-03-01 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=666–674 |doi=10.1681/ASN.V103666 |pmid=10073618 |access-date=2017-01-02 |doi-access=free |archive-date=2017-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108195724/http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/10/3/666.short |url-status=live }}</ref> Lithium [[Substance intoxication|intoxication]] can affect the [[central nervous system]] and [[renal system]] and can be lethal.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1001/archinte.149.1.36|last1=Simard|pmid=2492186|first1=M|year=1989|pages=36–46|issue=1|last2=Gumbiner|volume=149|journal=Archives of Internal Medicine|first2=B|last3=Lee|first3=A|last4=Lewis|first4=H|last5=Norman|first5=D|title=Lithium carbonate intoxication. A case report and review of the literature|url=http://archinte.highwire.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/36.pdf|access-date=2010-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726151128/http://archinte.highwire.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/36.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-26}}</ref> Over a prolonged period, lithium can accumulate in the [[Collecting duct system#Principal cells|principal cells]] of the collecting duct and interfere with [[antidiuretic hormone]] (ADH), which regulates the water permeability of principal cells in the collecting tubule.<ref name=UpToDateRenalToxicity>{{cite web|last=Lerma|first=Edgar V.|title=Renal toxicity of lithium|work=[[UpToDate]]|access-date=8 March 2022|url=https://www.uptodate.com/contents/renal-toxicity-of-lithium|archive-date=8 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308205106/https://www.uptodate.com/contents/renal-toxicity-of-lithium|url-status=live}}</ref> The medullary interstitium of the [[collecting duct system]] naturally has a high sodium concentration and attempts to maintain it. There is no known mechanism for cells to distinguish lithium ions from sodium ions, so damage to the [[kidney]]'s [[nephron]]s may occur if lithium concentrations become too high as a result of [[dehydration]], [[hyponatremia]], an unusually [[low sodium diet]], or certain drugs.

===Red pyrotechnic colorant===
Lithium carbonate is used to [[Fireworks#Pyrotechnic compounds|impart a red color to fireworks]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Chemistry of Fireworks | url=https://fireworks.com/education-and-safety/chemistry-compounds | access-date=2020-07-05 | archive-date=2020-07-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705173238/https://fireworks.com/education-and-safety/chemistry-compounds | url-status=live }}</ref>