Final answer:
Lithium will chemically combine with fluorine to form a salt, specifically the ionic compound lithium fluoride (LiF), as lithium donates its lone valence electron to fluorine, resulting in the formation of Li+ and F- ions. So the correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element that will chemically combine with fluorine to form a salt is lithium (choice b). When lithium and fluorine react, lithium donates its one valence electron to fluorine. By transferring its electron, lithium becomes a lithium-ion with a net charge of +1, and fluorine becomes a fluoride anion with a net charge of -1. These oppositely charged ions attract each other to form the ionic compound lithium fluoride (LiF), which is a type of salt.
Returning to the question's options, we can see that:
- Carbon is a nonmetal that typically forms covalent bonds rather than ionic ones.
- Neon is a noble gas and generally does not form compounds because it has a full valence shell.
- Oxygen is capable of forming ionic compounds but not with fluorine, as they are both nonmetals that tend to gain electrons.