Answer to Question #307092 in General Chemistry for Imran ali

Question

Why alkali metal does not react with carbon

Answer 1

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.