In this case, when looking over the chemical formula of a compound formed when two elements interact, we need to realize about their location in the periodic table; thus, since lithium is a metal and oxygen a nonmetal, we infer lithium turns out the cation and oxygen the anion. Moreover, as the oxidation state of lithium is 1+ and that of oxygen is 2-, we can set up the chemical formula as follows:
Every chemical equation adheres to the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, there must be the same number of atoms of each element on each side of a chemical equation.