Li reacts directly with nitrogen to f0rm lithium nitride.

Explanation

To determine whether the statement "Li reacts directly with nitrogen to form lithium nitride" is true or false, we can analyze the properties of lithium and its behavior with nitrogen.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactants and Products**:
- The reactants are lithium (Li) and nitrogen (N2).
- The product we are considering is lithium nitride (Li3N).

2. **Understand the Nature of Lithium**:
- Lithium is an alkali metal, which is known for its ability to react with nonmetals.
- Among the alkali metals, lithium has the smallest atomic size and the highest charge density due to its small size and high electronegativity.

3. **Reaction with Nitrogen**:
- Lithium can react with nitrogen directly. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ 6Li + N_2 \rightarrow 2Li_3N \]
- This equation shows that lithium reacts with nitrogen gas to form lithium nitride.

4. **Stability of Lithium Nitride**:
- Lithium nitride (Li3N) is known to be a stable compound.
- The stability is attributed to the high lattice energy released during the formation of Li3N, making the reaction exothermic.

5. **Comparison with Other Alkali Metals**:
- Other alkali metals such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), and rubidium (Rb) do not react with nitrogen to form stable nitrides.
- The lattice energies of their respective nitrides are lower, leading to instability.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Since lithium does react with nitrogen to form a stable compound (lithium nitride), the statement "Li reacts directly with nitrogen to form lithium nitride" is **true**.

### Final Answer:
The statement is **true**.