Final answer:
The Group 17 elements, the halogens, are most likely to combine with lithium in a 2:1 ratio due to their electronic configurations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the periodic table, the column of elements that would be most likely to chemically combine with lithium in a 2:1 ratio is the group containing the halogens, which are in Group 17 of the periodic table. Lithium (Li) is an alkali metal found in Group 1, and it tends to lose one electron to achieve a full outer shell. Halogens, such as fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), and bromine (Br), are one electron short of a full outer shell and will typically gain an electron during chemical reactions. Since Li wants to lose one electron and halogens want to gain one, two atoms of a halogen would combine with one atom of lithium to form a stable compound with a 2:1 ratio, such as LiFâ‚‚ or LiClâ‚‚.