Reaction of nitrogen with solutions of lithium in mercury

Abstract

Addition of mercury to liquid lithium causes profound changes in the reactivity of lithium with nitrogen, whereas dilution with liquid sodium does not affect this reaction. With the 1 : 1 mixture LiHg, and liquids containing greater amounts of mercury, no reaction with nitrogen occurs. With liquids containing amounts of lithium greater than the composition LiHg, the amount of nitrogen which reacts is only that required to convert to Li₃N, the lithium which is in excess of LiHg. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of weakly electropositive metals on the conduction band of the alkali metal.