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The S-Block Elements

Question
CBSEENCH11007086

Comment on each of the following observations:
Lithium is the only alkali metal which forms nitride directly.

Solution
Due to the diagonal relationship of Li and Mg (both have similar ionic sizes), lithium like magnesium forms a nitride on heating with nitrogen while other alkali metals do not.

Lithium is the only alkali metal which forms a nitride directly Li+ and N3- ions are very small, so they form stable Li3N.

6 Li left parenthesis straight s right parenthesis space plus space straight N subscript 2 left parenthesis straight g right parenthesis space space rightwards arrow with Heat space on top space 2 Li subscript 3 straight N left parenthesis straight s right parenthesis