ðə hˈaɪ lˈæɾɪs ɛnθˈælpi ʌv lˈɪθiəm flˈʊɹɹaɪd ɪz dˈuː tə ðə smˈɔːl sˈaɪzᵻz ʌvðə lˈaɪ plˈʌs ænd ˈɛf mˈaɪnəs ˈaɪɑːnz, kˈɔːzɪŋ ðɪ ɪlˌɛktɹoʊstˈæɾɪk ˌɪntɚɹˈækʃənz bᵻtwˌiːn ðˌɛm təbi stɹˈɔŋ: ɐ sˈɪmɪlɚɹ ɪfˈɛkt əkˈɜːz fɔːɹ mæɡnˈiːziəm flˈʊɹɹaɪd, kənsˈɪstənt wɪððə daɪˈæɡənəl ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp bᵻtwˌiːn lˈɪθiəm ænd mæɡnˈiːziəm.
The high lattice enthalpy of lithium fluoride is due to the small sizes of the Li+ and F− ions, causing the electrostatic interactions between them to be strong: a similar effect occurs for magnesium fluoride, consistent with the diagonal relationship between lithium and magnesium.