Lithium imide

Lithium imide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Li₂NH. This white solid can be formed by a reaction between lithium amide and lithium hydride.^[1]

LiNH₂ + LiH → Li₂NH + H₂

Lithium imide

__ Li+     __ NH2−
Names
IUPAC name Lithium imide
Identifiers
CAS Number	12135-01-2
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
InChI Key: LWEQKNGYZUCTTC-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1S/2Li.HN/h;;1H/q2*+1;-2
SMILES [Li+].[Li+].[NH-2]
Properties
Chemical formula	Li2NH
Molar mass	28.897 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Density	1.48 g/cm3
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

The product is light-sensitive and can undergo disproportionation to lithium amide and characteristically red lithium nitride.

2 Li₂NH → LiNH₂ + Li₃N

Lithium imide is thought to have a simple face-centered cubic structure with a Fm3m space group; with N-H bond distances of 0.82(6) Å and a H–N–H bond angle of 109.5°, giving it a similar structure to lithium amide.^[2][3]

Lithium imide is strongly basic and deprotonates even some extremely weak acids such as methane and ammonia, due to the very localized negative charge on the nitrogen, which carries two formal charges. It has uses in organic and organometallic chemistry. It has been investigated as a material for hydrogen storage.^[1]