Question
Define electronegativity
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. It is a key concept in understanding chemical bonding and reactivity, as it influences how atoms interact with one another in compounds. The most commonly used scale for electronegativity is the Pauling scale, which assigns numerical values to elements based on their ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond.
In general, elements with high electronegativity (such as fluorine and oxygen) tend to attract electrons more strongly than those with lower electronegativity (like sodium and potassium). The difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms can determine the type of bond that forms (ionic, polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent) and influences molecular properties such as polarity, solubility, and reactivity.
In general, elements with high electronegativity (such as fluorine and oxygen) tend to attract electrons more strongly than those with lower electronegativity (like sodium and potassium). The difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms can determine the type of bond that forms (ionic, polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent) and influences molecular properties such as polarity, solubility, and reactivity.