Write an essay on the differences between lithium and other alkali metals.

Explanation

Anomalous properties of Lithium: In the periodic table some representative elements of different series show similarities, known as diagonal relationship. Li of the alkali metals show such a similarity with Mg of II group. That means it differs from alkali metals. SOme of the important abnormal characters of lithium are given below.
a) lithium is hard metal while other alkali metals are soft and can be cut with the knife. Its melting point and boiling point are high.
b) Lithium directly unites with `N_2` while no other alkali metals combines directly
`6Ni+N_2 to 2Li_3N`
c) Lithium elements forms a carbide on direct combination. Group IA elements do not form directly. But all these elements are known to give carbides.
d) THe solubilities of LIthium hydroxide (liOH), Lithium carbonate `(li_2CO_3)` Lithium phosphate `(Li_3PO_4)` and Lithium fluoride (Lif), are very less compared to the high solubilities of the other alkali metal compounds.
e) Lithium hydroxide is a weaker alkali than the alkali metal hydroxides, Basic nature of other alkali metal hydroxides is more than Li(OH). Because of this Lithium hydroxide Carbonate, nitrates are thermally unstable.