3.6 bond polarity

Question 1

Define ‘electronegativity’.

Answer 1

The power of an atom to attract negative charge towards itself within a covalent bond.

Question 2

Why does electronegativity increase along a period?

Answer 2

The atomic radius of atoms decrease.

Question 3

Why does electronegativity decrease down a group?

Answer 3

Shielding increases meaning that there is less attraction between the nucleus and the bonding pair of electrons.

Question 4

How does nuclear charge affect electronegativity?

Answer 4

The more protons in the nucleus, the stronger the attraction is between the nucleus and the bonding pair of electrons. Along a period, the number of protons increases.

Question 5

The further up and right you go in the periodic table (excluding noble gases) the more electronegative the element is. Fluorine is the most electronegative.

Answer 5

The Pauling Scale helps us to quantify how electronegative an element is.