lithium (greek "lithos", meaning "stone") was discovered by johann arfvedson in 1817. in 1818, christian gmelin observed that lithium salts give a bright red color in flame. w.t. brande and sir humphrey davy later used electrolysis on lithium oxide to isolate the element. lithium was first used in greases. then nuclear weapons became a big use of lithium. lithium was also used to make glass melt easier and make aluminium oxide melt easier in making aluminium. now lithium is used mainly in batteries.