Lithium reacts with acetylene in liquid ammonia to produce...

Lithium reacts with acetylene in liquid ammonia to produce $\mathrm{LiC}_{2} \mathrm{H}$ (lithium acetylide, $\mathrm{LiC}=\mathrm{CH}$ ) and hydrogen gas. Write a balanced equation for this reaction. What type of reaction is this?

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Key Concepts

Chemical Equation Balancing

This concept refers to the law of conservation of mass, which mandates that the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of a chemical reaction. Proper balancing ensures that all reactants and products are accounted for correctly, forming a foundation for accurate stoichiometric calculations and understanding reaction yields.

Acid?Base Reaction Mechanism

In many reactions involving a terminal alkyne and an alkali metal, the metal acts as a strong base, deprotonating the acidic hydrogen on the alkyne. This deprotonation process leads to the formation of an acetylide anion and the liberation of hydrogen gas, illustrating a typical acid–base reaction where a proton is transferred between species.

Alkali Metal Reactivity and Redox Processes

Alkali metals such as lithium are highly reactive due to their tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions. When they react with compounds containing acidic protons, the process often includes a redox component: the metal is oxidized (loses electrons), and the proton is reduced (gains electrons to form hydrogen gas). This dual characteristic underlies many reactions of alkali metals, combining acid–base and redox behavior.

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