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.

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