Identify the elements and polyatomic ions present in the compound LiOH. Li is lithium, O is oxygen, and H is hydrogen.
Recognize that OH is a common polyatomic ion called hydroxide, which consists of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom bonded together.
Since Li is a metal (an alkali metal) and OH is a polyatomic ion (hydroxide), the compound is an ionic compound formed by lithium cations (Li⁺) and hydroxide anions (OH⁻).
Name the compound by stating the metal first (lithium) followed by the name of the polyatomic ion (hydroxide).
Therefore, the correct name for LiOH is lithium hydroxide.