Ink, ink cartridge and ink jet recording method

An ink comprising a coloring material and a lithium ion, wherein;

• the coloring material comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (I);
• and
• a content of the lithium ion in the ink is 3.5 times or more in terms of molar ratio with respect to a content of the compound represented by the general formula (I):
• in the general formula (I),
• R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and being substituted with a carboxy group;
• a phenyl group;
• a phenyl group substituted with a sulfonic group;
• or a carboxy group,
• R2 represents a cyano group;
• a carbamoyl group;
• or a carboxy group,
• R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom;
• an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• a halogen atom;
• an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• or a sulfonic group,
• R5 and R7 each independently represent an alkylthio group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• or an alkylthio group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and being substituted with at least one kind of group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a sulfonic group, and a carboxy group,
• R6 and R8 each independently represent an alkylcarbonylamino group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
• R9 and R10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom;
• a carboxy group;
• a sulfonic group;
• an acetylamino group;
• a halogen atom;
• an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and being substituted with at least one kind of group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a sulfonic group, and a carboxy group, and
• R11, R12, and R13 each independently represent a hydrogen atom;
• a carboxy group;
• a sulfonic group;
• a hydroxy group;
• an acetylamino group;
• a halogen atom;
• a cyano group;
• a nitro group;
• a sulfamoyl group;
• an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and being substituted with at least one kind of group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• a sulfonic group, and a carboxy group;
• an alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• or an alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and being substituted with at least one kind of group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a sulfonic group, and a carboxy group.