While reading about the size of atoms and ions of the Group 1 elements in the textbook "Concise Inorganic Chemistry" by JD Lee, I came across this line:
The Li+ is much smaller than the other ions. For this reason, Li only mixes with Na and above 380 Celsius, and it is immiscible with the metals K, Rb and Cs, even when molten; nor will Li form sunstitutional alloys with them. In contrast the other metals Na, K, Rb, Cs are miscible with each other in all proportions.
I am unable to understand why the elements cannot form alloys with Li and what makes the other elements miscible with each other in all proportions.
I observed that the metallic radius of Li is 1.52 $\unicode{xC5}$ and that the difference between its radius and that of Na is about 0.34 $\unicode{xC5}$. But the difference between the radii of the other successive elements in this group is also about the same, so it doesn't help explain miscibility.
I would really appreciate some insight and clarification.
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