Why does dinitrogen react with lithium metal?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 3, 2017

Because dinitrogen is not really such an inert gas.............

Explanation:

And the action of an alkaline earth metal, or alkali metal are fierce reducing conditions.........

#3Li(s)+1/2N_2(g)rarrLi_3N(s)#...........

See here and elsewhere.

And under much milder reducing conditions dinitrogen can be cleaved by the action of certain bacteria in the roots of leguminous plants.

Related questions
See all questions in Review of Elements and Compounds
Impact of this question
1363 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License