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Somewhat off-topic: Why can't lithium (or other elements) be synthesized in a lab for production use?
by redwoolf 5y ago
Somewhat off-topic: Why can't lithium (or other elements) be synthesized in a lab for production use?
- washadjeffmad 5y agoWe haven't really mastered fusion to the point that we can just glue atoms together, let alone in a simple, cost efficient way.
- grzm 5y agoBecause they're elements. They require nuclear reactions to create them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element#Origin_of_the_elements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element#Origin_of_the...
- HPsquared 5y agoChemical elements are defined by the composition of their atomic nuclei. Specifically, the number of protons in the nucleus. This isn't something that can be changed chemically, you need nuclear reactions (it's called transmutation). These would be extremely uneconomical for recreating natural natural lithium, and the yield would be tiny.