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____________________________________ are ionic compounds formed by a metal - sodium (Na), potassium (K), or lithium (Li) - which is combined with oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H).

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Final Answer:

Ionic compounds formed by a metal (sodium, potassium, or lithium) combined with oxygen and hydrogen are known as alkali metal oxides and hydroxides.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alkali metal hydroxides are a class of ionic compounds composed of alkali metals (Na, K, Li), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H). The general formula for alkali metal hydroxides is MOH, where M represents the alkali metal. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and lithium hydroxide (LiOH) are specific examples of alkali metal hydroxides. These compounds are formed through the reaction of the respective alkali metal with oxygen and water:


\[2M + (1)/(2)O_2 + H_2O \rightarrow 2MOH\]

For example, the formation of sodium hydroxide can be represented as:


\[2Na + (1)/(2)O_2 + H_2O \rightarrow 2NaOH\]

This balanced chemical equation illustrates the combination of two sodium (Na) atoms with oxygen (O2) and water (H2O) to produce two molecules of sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

The resulting alkali metal hydroxides are highly basic and exhibit characteristic properties of strong bases. They dissociate completely in water to yield hydroxide ions (OH-) and the corresponding metal cations. The alkali metal hydroxides play essential roles in various industrial processes and are commonly used in laboratories and chemical applications.

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