Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold electrons in a chemical bond. It is a crucial concept for understanding the behavior of atoms in molecules and their reactivity.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Electronegativity values increase across a period from left to right on the periodic table.
Electronegativity values decrease down a group on the periodic table.
The most electronegative element is fluorine, with a value of 3.98 on the Pauling scale.
Electronegativity differences between atoms can determine bond type—large differences usually lead to ionic bonds, while smaller differences result in covalent bonds.
Polar covalent bonds are formed when there is an intermediate difference in electronegativity between two bonding atoms.
Review Questions
Related terms
Ionization Energy: The energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion.
Covalent Bond: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between atoms.
Ionic Bond: A chemical bond formed through the electrical force between oppositely charged ions.