Explanation: Lithium is an alkali metal in Group 1. It has a single valence electron that it would be pleased to give up, or share, with another element. Oxygen is in Group 16, just one removed from the halogens. It has 6 valence electrons, and wants 2 mosr to complete it's valence shell. One lithium will contribute 1 electron, so oxh=ygen will keep looking for a second. If another lithium is available, it will react with that one also, resulting in Li2O.
