Question #307092
Why alkali metal does not react with carbon
Expert's answer
Lithium forms a carbide (Li2C2) similar to that of calcium. The other alkali metals do not form stable carbides, although they do react with the graphite form of carbon to give intercalation compounds.
Carbides are actually composed of carbon and a less electronegativity element , but alkali element will not react with carbon in its primitive state , thats the reason they cannot form carbides in normal skeletal state.
