Question

Lithium is the only alkali metal to form a nitride directly. Explain.

Answer 1

here's your answer
hope it helps you

Answer 2

Dear Sudhir,

◆ Lithium is the only alkali metal to form a nitride directly because -

- Lithium is the first element of 1st group. i.e. alkali metal series.

- Lithium is smallest of all alkali metals. This small size is compatible with N3- ion.

- Therefore, only Li reacts directly with N to form LiN3.

6Li + N2 --> 2Li3N

Hope this helped. Thanks for asking..