Let x be the number of alkali metals that form a nitride directly on heating with nitrogen. Let y be the number of non-radioactive alkaline earth metals that form nitrides on heating with nitrogen. Le

Question

Let x be the number of alkali metals that form a nitride directly on heating with nitrogen. Let y be the number of non-radioactive alkaline earth metals that form nitrides on heating with nitrogen. Let u be the number of non-radioactive alkali metals that form a superoxide as the major product on burning in excess oxygen. Find x + y − u .

TestHub · Accepted Answer

Only lithium among the alkali metals forms a nitride directly: $Li_{3} N$ . Thus $x = 1$ .

All five non-radioactive alkaline earth metals, $Be$ , $Mg$ , $Ca$ , $Sr$ and $Ba$ , form nitrides on heating with nitrogen. Thus $y = 5$ .

$K$ , $Rb$ and $Cs$ give superoxides as their major products in excess oxygen. Thus $u = 3$ .

Hence $x + y - u = 1 + 5 - 3 = 3$ .

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