Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. The Pauling scale is the most commonly used. Fluorine (the most electronegative element) is assigned a value of 4.0, and values range down to cesium and francium which are the least electronegative at 0.7.

Overview

Electronegativity is used to predict whether a bond between atoms will be ionic or covalent. It can also be used to predict if the resulting molecule will be polar or nonpolar. This concept is useful in understanding the distribution of electron density in a molecule.

Pauling Scale

The Pauling Scale is the most commonly used electronegativity scale. It was developed by Linus Pauling and is based on bond energies. The most electronegative element, fluorine, is assigned a value of 4.0. The least electronegative elements, cesium and francium, have a value of 0.7.

Factors Affecting Electronegativity

Several factors affect the electronegativity of an atom. These include the atom's atomic number, the distance between the atom's nucleus and its valence electrons (the atomic radius), and the number of places in the atom's outermost electron shell that are occupied by electrons (the number of valence electrons).

Applications of Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a fundamental concept in chemistry, and it has wide applications. It is used to predict the type of bond that will form between two atoms. It is also used to predict the polarity of a molecule, which is important in understanding its physical and chemical properties.

See Also

• Chemical bond
• Ionic bond
• Covalent bond
• Polarity (chemistry)
• Valence electron

References

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