Lithium vs Glass.

lithium can chemically reduce certain components of glass, particularly silica (SiO2), under the right conditions. Here’s how it works in plain terms:

Glass is mostly SiO2 (silicon dioxide), often mixed with other oxides. Lithium is a strong reducing agent, so at high enough temperatures it can react with SiO2 to produce silicon and lithium oxide:

Reaction (simplified):

Li + SiO2 → Li2O + Si

Li2O = lithium oxide

Si = elemental silicon

Notes:

1. This reaction usually requires high heat, because SiO2 is very stable at room temperature.

2. At normal temperatures, lithium reacts mostly with moisture on the glass, not the glass itself.

3. This reduction is similar to how metals like magnesium or aluminum can reduce SiO2 to silicon in industrial processes.