Why is lithium and chlorine likely to form an ionic compound?

Answer 1

because the atoms of lithium are the type where they take any form easily and stick to other elements. Chlorine on the other hand is the element form of a noble gas, it doesn't mix. So when the lithium clings to the chlorine, with the chlorine being unwilling, then an ionic compound forms.

Answer 2

Lithium has one valence electron that it wants to lose, while chlorine has seven electrons in its outer shell and wants to gain one more to achieve a stable electron configuration. This creates a strong attraction between the positively charged lithium ion and the negatively charged chloride ion, leading to the formation of an ionic bond.