- "Lithium dioxide. It's not a cure, but it could delay the inevitable. Stave off the systems and give Mr. Stark a little bit longer."
- ―S.H.I.E.L.D. Scientist to Nick Fury[src]
Lithium Dioxide is a chemical that can slow down palladium poisoning.
History[]
- "That's lithium dioxide. It's gonna take the edge off. We're trying to get you back to work."
"Give me a couple of boxes of that. I'll be right as rain."
"It's not a cure, it just abates the symptoms." - ―Nick Fury, Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff[src]
Nick Fury learned that Tony Stark was dying of palladium poisoning from his Arc Reactor, he stormed into the science division of S.H.I.E.L.D. and demanded more answers. A scientist offered lithium dioxide as a temporary cure that could give Stark time to find a cure himself, but not a permanent cure due to the nature of lithium. Stark got into an altercation with James Rhodes while drunk and left the base, flying to Randy's Donuts. Fury and Natasha Romanoff visited him the next day, and Fury gave her the vial of lithium dioxide, ordering her to inject Stark with it once Fury brought him inside.[1] Romanoff followed the orders, and Stark was kept alive long enough to design a new element that could save him.[2]
Alternate Reality Versions[]
Assassination of Tony Stark[]
- "That's lithium dioxide. It's gonna take the edge off."
"It's not a cure, it just... abates the symptoms?" - ―Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff to Tony Stark[src]
In an alternate reality, Nick Fury had Natasha Romanoff inject Tony Stark with lithium dioxide. However, Hank Pym had compromised the syringe, causing it to stay inside while Pym himself entered Stark's system and killed him. Romanoff took the blame for the murder and worked to figure out what actually happened to Stark, so she took the syringe to Betty Ross, who discovered that the lithium dioxide was still inside.[3]
Capabilities[]
- "As an elemental solution, lithium is makeshift at best."
- ―S.H.I.E.L.D. Scientist to Nick Fury[src]
Although it cannot provide an absolute cure, lithium dioxide is capable of slowing the progress of palladium poisoning, even when the person taking the injection has less than seventy-two hours to live.
Alternate Versions[]
| Origin | Status | Creators | Owners | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avengers Assassinated | Inactive | - | S.H.I.E.L.D. | Natasha Romanoff † |
Appearances[]
In chronological order:
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Lithium Dioxide is actually called "Lithium Superoxide" in real life, which is actually an unstable inorganic salt, though not used a lot.