Final answer:
The overall charge of a neutral lithium atom is zero. Lithium has three protons and, to be neutral, an equal number of electrons, namely three. An ionic lithium, such as in lithium fluoride (LiF), has a net charge of +1 due to the loss of one electron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The overall charge of the atom for lithium in its neutral state is zero. Lithium (Li) has an atomic number of 3, which means it has three protons in the nucleus. For the atom to be neutral, the number of electrons must be equal to the number of protons, which is also 3. These electrons are arranged as two in the first energy level (1s²) and one in the second energy level (2s¹), following the electron configuration 1s² 2s¹.
However, when lithium atoms interact with other elements, such as fluorine, to form an ionic compound, a lithium atom can lose one electron to full fill its outermost valence shell and achieve a stable electron configuration resembling that of the noble gas helium. This loss of an electron results in a lithium ion (Li⁺) with a net charge of +1.