Lithium forms ions with a charge of lt Oxygen forms ions with a charge of 2- in the ionic compound lithium oxide, how many atoms of lithium will there be if there is 1 atom of oxygen?
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There are 2 lithium atoms in the ionic compound lithium oxide, Li₂O

Explanation:

The charge of ions formed by lithium = 1⁺

The charge of ions formed by oxygen = 2⁻

In the ionic compound lithium oxide having 1 atom of oxygen, we have;

For the compound to be electronically neutral, the sum of the charges of the atoms in the ionic compound is zero

The charge of 1 atom of oxygen in the lithium oxide compound + The charge of the 'n' number of lithium atoms in the lithium oxide compound = 0

∴ 2⁻ + n × 1⁺ = 0

n × 1⁺ = 0 - 2⁻ = 2⁺

n = 2⁺/(1⁺) = 2

n = 2

The number of lithium atoms in the lithium oxide compound, n = 2

Therefore, there are two lithium atoms in the ionic lithium oxide (Li₂O) compound