When a fresh piece of lithium metal is heated in a stream of pure nitrogen gas, a ruby-red crystalline solid is formed. What is the formula of this product?
Q1. When a fresh piece of lithium metal is heated in a stream of pure nitrogen gas, a ruby-red crystalline solid is formed. What is the formula of this product?
Answer: Lithium nitride (Li3N)
Explanation: Lithium is the only alkali metal reacting directly with nitrogen to form Li3N; LiN3 is an azide, not the direct combustion product.