Lithium nitride
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Lithium nitride is a compound of lithium and nitrogen with the formula Li3N. It is the only stable alkali metal nitride. It can be formed by direct reaction of the elements, by burning lithium metal in pure nitrogen gas. It reacts violently with water to produce ammonia:
Li3N (s) + 3 H2O (l) → 3 LiOH (aq) + NH3 (g)
All ionic nitrides display this pattern, due to the N3- ion being an extremely strong Bronsted base. It easily qualifies as a superbase. It is, in fact, a stronger base than the hydride ion, so deprotonates hydrogen itself. Thus, it is used to store hydrogen by reacting with it in this way:
Li3N (s) + 2 H2 (g) → LiNH2 (s) + 2 LiH (s).
This reaction can be reversed by heating, releasing the hydrogen.
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