Like, the very same? Does it at least goes through different processings? How the fuck can a metal be a medicine?
In: 54
There is a good answer already, but I want to add that you may not be thinking of lithium as a metal in the same way that the answer requires.
Outside of science, we think of metals as shiny, hard and malleable material. These are often alloys.
Surprisingly, science doesn’t agree on what is and isn’t a metal. In physics, every element in the universe that’s not hydrogen or helium is considered to be metal. But that’s just one definition. There is another involving energy at absolute zero. In chemistry, there are even more definitions. Some define carbon to be a metal, others do not.
Regardless of the definition used, in physics and chemistry, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium are always defined as metals. You’ve also likely heard of these metals referred to as vitamins (vital minerals) required for the body to function.
Lithium isn’t understood to be essential like the other metals I listed but it occurs naturally everywhere and is in the food chain. It would take extreme and intentional effort to avoid consuming lithium. It has positive effects at low levels and is toxic in high levels.
Don’t get caught up on lithium being a “metal.” It’s just one of many examples of inorganic stuff that is in the food chain and has some effect on your body.
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