Lithium nitride is the only stable alkali metal nitride
Overview of Lithium Nitride Li3N Powder Lithium nitride is a metallic nitrogen compound with the molecular formula Li3N. It is the only stable alkali metal nitride. It is a purple or red crystalline solid, with a high melting point and a light green luster in reflected light and ruby color in transmitted light. Exposure to the air over a long period of time will eventually result in lithium carbonate. The chemistry of basic metal nitrides is extremely limited, and only lithium nitride is stable and easily prepared among binary compounds (sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite are prepared only under more extreme conditions). Lithium nitride belongs to the hexagonal crystal system. There are lithium and nitrogen layers composed of lithium and nitrogen atoms in lithium nitride crystal. The lithium atoms are arranged like carbon atoms in a graphite crystal, with nitrogen atoms at the center of a hexagon of lithium atoms. There is a lithium layer between the lithium and ni...