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The S-Block Elements

Question
CBSEENCH11007101

What happens when:
(i) Lithium reacts with air
(ii) Lithium reacts with water
(iii) Lithium reacts with halogen
(iv) Lithium reacts with acids?

Solution
(i) When heated in air, lithium combines with both oxygen and nitrogen.
4 Li space plus space straight O subscript 2 space space rightwards arrow with Heat on top space space stack 2 Li subscript 2 straight O with Lithium space oxide below
6 Li space plus space straight N subscript 2 space rightwards arrow with Heat on top space space space stack 2 Li subscript 3 straight N with Lithium space space nitride below
(ii) Lithium reacts with water slowly to evolve hydrogen. 
2 Li space plus space 2 straight H subscript 2 straight O space rightwards arrow space space 2 LiH space plus space straight H subscript 2
(iii) Lithium form halides on reacting with halogen. 
2 Li space plus space Cl subscript 2 space space rightwards arrow space space 2 LiCl.
The halides of lithium are mostly covalent in nature. 
(iv) Lithium reacts with dilute HCl and dilute H2SO4 to evolve hydrogen gas.
2 Li space plus space 2 HCl space space rightwards arrow space space space 2 LiCl space plus space straight H subscript 2
The reaction with concentrated H2SO4 is highly exothermic and the metal catches fire.