Lithium is more likely to become a cation.
To understand why, we need to look at lithium’s position in the periodic table. Lithium is located in Group 1, which is the alkali metals group. Elements in this group have one electron in their outermost shell. When these elements react, they tend to lose that one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to that of the nearest noble gas.
By losing one electron, lithium transforms into a lithium ion (Li+), which is a cation. Cations are positively charged because they have more protons than electrons. In contrast, anions are formed when atoms gain electrons, which is less common for alkali metals like lithium due to their tendency to lose electrons easily.
Therefore, given lithium’s position in the periodic table and its tendency to lose its single valence electron, it is clear that lithium is more likely to become a cation rather than an anion.