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Chemistry is full of interesting terms that describe how atoms behave and bond with each other. One such important concept is electronegativity. Let’s find out what it means and why it matters!
What is Electronegativity?
Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. When two atoms form a bond by sharing electrons, they don’t always share them equally. Some atoms are better at pulling electrons towards themselves, and this pulling power is called electronegativity.
For example, in a water molecule (H₂O), the oxygen atom is more electronegative than hydrogen, so it pulls the shared electrons closer to itself. This gives oxygen a slight negative charge and hydrogen a slight positive charge.
Who Introduced the Concept?
The concept of electronegativity was introduced by Linus Pauling, a famous American chemist. He even created a scale called the Pauling Scale to assign electronegativity values to elements.
Electronegativity in the Periodic Table
Electronegativity values vary across the periodic table and follow certain patterns:
| Trend | Description |
| Across a Period (→) | Electronegativity increases. Atoms have more protons and a smaller radius, so they attract electrons more strongly. |
| Down a Group (↓) | Electronegativity decreases. Atoms get larger, and the outer electrons are farther from the nucleus, so the attraction weakens. |
- Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element (value: 3.98).
- Cesium (Cs) and Francium (Fr) have the lowest electronegativity.
Why is Electronegativity Important?
Electronegativity is essential in chemistry because it helps determine how atoms form chemical bonds. It influences whether a bond is ionic or covalent—a large difference in electronegativity leads to ionic bonds, while a small difference results in covalent bonds. It also affects molecular polarity; unequal sharing of electrons creates polar molecules with partial charges, like water. This polarity influences solubility, boiling points, and how molecules interact.
Moreover, electronegativity impacts chemical reactivity—atoms with high electronegativity attract electrons strongly and often act as oxidizing agents. Overall, it helps explain the behavior and properties of substances in various reactions.
Common Doubts of Chemistry
