Lithium atoms, like hydrogen atoms, have only a single electron in their outer shells, yet lithium atoms do not join together to form Li2 molecules the way hydrogen atoms form H2 molecules. Instead, lithium is a metal with each atom part of a crystal structure. Can you think of the reason for this difference?
4 answers
H bonds together because each atom shares its electron and it takes only two electrons to fill the shell in H atoms. Li atoms must have 7 electrons if they tried to share their electrons. It is easier for them to lose the outside electron leaving the inner shell filled.
123
Ask fung gor
Hong Kong Fung Gor No.1