Answer:
Ionic.
Explanation:
Elements with higher electronegativity values are better at attracting electrons in a chemical bond.
In this example, the difference between the electronegativity of oxygen and lithium is [tex]3.5 - 1.0 = 2.5[/tex]. Since [tex]2.5 > 1.8[/tex], the bond between the two elements would likely be ionic.
It is possible to reach the same conclusion based on the fact that lithium is a metal while oxygen is a nonmetal. When metal elements react with non-metal elements, the product is typically an ionic compound- with ionic bonds between the atoms.