Why does only lithium reacts with nitrogen?

Why does only lithium reacts with nitrogen?

Lithium is the smallest atom among alkali metals. When Lithium reacts with nitrogen gas at room temperature (N2), it forms Lithium Nitride (Li3N) which is stable, because the lattice energy released from the formation of Li3N is high enough to make the overall reaction exothermic.

Why Is lithium the least reactive alkali metal?

Lithium is the least reactive because it is the one with the least electrons. That means the electrons are closer to the nucleus and therefore more attracted to it.

Why is lithium different from the other alkali metals?

Differences between Lithium and Other Alkali Metals Lithium is harder than other alkali metals. Melting and boiling point is higher than other alkali metals. Out of all the other alkali metals, it is the least reactive metal. It is a strong reducing agent compared to other alkali metal.

Why do metals not react with nitrogen?

This is because the lattice energy and the electron affinity of nitrogen do not exceed the ionization energy of potassium. So the overall reaction is endothermic and so infeasible. Therefore the correct option is B.

Why lithium is the only alkali metal which forms nitride directly?

Unlike the other elements of group 1, Li reacts directly with nitrogen to form lithium nitride. This is because Li+ is very small in size and so its size is the most compatible with the N3– ion. Hence, the lattice energy released is very high.

How does lithium react with nitrogen?

In lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction, lithium ions are reduced to lithium metal, which spontaneously reacts with nitrogen to form lithium nitride (Li3N). The Li3N then reacts with a proton source to form ammonia.

Do alkali metals react with nitrogen?

Since the alkali metals are the most electropositive (the least electronegative) of elements, they react with a great variety of nonmetals. It is less reactive than the other alkali metals with water, oxygen, and halogens and more reactive with nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen.

Why is lithium not as reactive?

Lithium is part of the Group 1 Alkali Metals, which are highly reactive and are never found in their pure form in nature. This is due to their electron configuration, in that they have a single valence electron (Figure 1) which is very easily given up in order to create bonds and form compounds.

Why lithium is the strongest reducing agent?

Lithium ion is small in size and has high ionization enthalpy. Thus, Li has a greater tendency to lose electrons in solution than other alkali metals. The Large amount of hydration energy makes it the strongest reducing agent in spite of its highest ionisation enthalpy.

Why and in what ways does lithium resemble Group 2 metals?

Since the alkali metals are the most electropositive (the least electronegative) of elements, they react with a great variety of nonmetals. In its chemical reactivity, lithium more closely resembles Group 2 (IIa) of the periodic table than it does the other metals of its own group.

Does lithium react with nitrogen?

The lithium metal can react with the proton carrier (HA) to form hydrogen or with nitrogen to form lithium nitride.

Why lithium nitride is formed?

Lithium nitride is prepared by direct combination of elemental lithium with nitrogen gas: 6 Li + N2 → 2 Li3N. Instead of burning lithium metal in an atmosphere of nitrogen, a solution of lithium in liquid sodium metal can be treated with N2. Li3N + 3 H2O → 3 LiOH + NH.

Which of the following alkali metals reacts with nitrogen?

:76. Lithium, the lightest of the alkali metals, is the only alkali metal which reacts with nitrogen at standard conditions, and its nitride is the only stable alkali metal nitride. Nitrogen is an unreactive gas because breaking the strong triple bond in the dinitrogen molecule (N2) requires a lot of energy.

What is the reaction between lithium and nitrogen?

Lithium is the only alkali metal that can react with nitrogen. It gives lithium nitride salt. At room temperature and pressure, lithium metal reacts with nitrogen gas as follows. Li (s) + N 2 (g) → 2Li 3 N (s)

Why are lithium and other alkali metals called alkali metal?

They are known as alkali metals since the compounds they form are very alkaline (basic compounds). Lithium is the smallest alkali metal among other alkali metals. The main difference between lithium and other alkali metals is that lithium is the only alkali metal that reacts with nitrogen.

What happens when lithium is kept exposed to air?

When lithium metal is kept exposed to air, it oxidizes quickly, forming oxide coating in black color. Alkali metals are group 1 elements excluding hydrogen. Therefore, the members of this category include Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium and Francium.