What is needed to have Nitrogen and Lithium react?
Scroll down. Conditions are given for the formation of Li3N.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_nitride
To determine what is needed for nitrogen and lithium to react, we can look at their chemical properties and reactions.
Nitrogen (N) is a non-metal located in group 15 of the periodic table. It exists as a diatomic molecule, meaning it naturally occurs as N2. Nitrogen is generally unreactive and requires a significant amount of energy to break the strong triple bond between its atoms.
Lithium (Li), on the other hand, is an alkali metal found in group 1 of the periodic table. It is highly reactive due to its tendency to lose its one valence electron and form a positive ion (Li+).
For nitrogen and lithium to react, it is important to create conditions that can overcome nitrogen's stability due to its triple bond. One possible method to facilitate their reaction is through the use of heat and light energy. By applying heat or subjecting the reactants to high-temperature conditions, the energy input can help break the nitrogen triple bond and initiate the reaction.
However, even with the application of heat, nitrogen reacts slowly with lithium. To accelerate the reaction, another option is to use a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent changes itself. For example, a common catalyst for nitrogen and lithium to react is lithium amide (LiNH2).
Therefore, to have nitrogen and lithium react, you would need to create conditions with high temperatures or use a catalyst like lithium amide to facilitate the reaction and overcome the unreactivity of nitrogen due to its triple bond.