An Introduction to Electronegativity (8.2.4)

Question 1

• Electronegativity is a parameter describing the ability of an atom to attract additional electron density to itself.

Answer 1

• Electronegativity is a parameter describing the ability of an atom to attract additional electron density to itself.

Question 2

• Due to decreasing atomic radius, electronegativity increases moving up a group on the periodic table.

Answer 2

• Due to decreasing atomic radius, electronegativity increases moving up a group on the periodic table.

Question 3

• Due to increasing nuclear charge, electronegativity increases moving across a period from left to right.

Answer 3

• Due to increasing nuclear charge, electronegativity increases moving across a period from left to right.

Question 4

By bombarding a series of transition metals with
electron beams, Henry G. J. Moseley found that the
frequency of the x ray emitted increased with
atomic number. He used these results to calculate
the atomic numbers of several elements.
This result can be explained through
electronegativity. Electronegativity is a parameter
describing the ability of an atom to attract additional
electron density to itself. Iron has the highest
electronegativity of the four elements shown, and
therefore the difference in energy between the
valence electron and the core electron is greater.
This results in the emission of a higher frequency
x ray photon when the higher energy electron
relaxes to the lower energy orbital.
Electronegativity combines the concepts of
ionization energy, electron affinity, and bond
lengths into a single value for each element.
Linus Pauling developed a scale of the
electronegativities of the elements. This scale
exhibits periodic trends.
Moving up a group on the periodic table, the atomic
radius decreases. This decreasing radius causes
the electrons to feel a higher effective nuclear
charge. Therefore, electronegativity increases
moving up a group on the periodic table.
Moving from left to right across a period on the
periodic table, nuclear charge increases. This
increase in nuclear charge causes the electrons to
be more attracted to the nucleus. Therefore,
electronegativity increases moving across a period
from left to right.

Answer 4

By bombarding a series of transition metals with
electron beams, Henry G. J. Moseley found that the
frequency of the x ray emitted increased with
atomic number. He used these results to calculate
the atomic numbers of several elements.
This result can be explained through
electronegativity. Electronegativity is a parameter
describing the ability of an atom to attract additional
electron density to itself. Iron has the highest
electronegativity of the four elements shown, and
therefore the difference in energy between the
valence electron and the core electron is greater.
This results in the emission of a higher frequency
x ray photon when the higher energy electron
relaxes to the lower energy orbital.
Electronegativity combines the concepts of
ionization energy, electron affinity, and bond
lengths into a single value for each element.
Linus Pauling developed a scale of the
electronegativities of the elements. This scale
exhibits periodic trends.
Moving up a group on the periodic table, the atomic
radius decreases. This decreasing radius causes
the electrons to feel a higher effective nuclear
charge. Therefore, electronegativity increases
moving up a group on the periodic table.
Moving from left to right across a period on the
periodic table, nuclear charge increases. This
increase in nuclear charge causes the electrons to
be more attracted to the nucleus. Therefore,
electronegativity increases moving across a period
from left to right.

Question 5

Which periodic concepts are summarized by electronegativity?

Answer 5

all of the above (D)

Electronegativity combines the concepts of ionization energy, electron affinity, and bond length.

Question 6

Which of the following is not directly factored into electronegativity?

Answer 6

number of valence electrons (C)

The number of valance electrons is not a component of electronegativity. However, elements with higher electronegativity values are more likely to gain additional valence electrons to reach a noble gas configuration.

Question 7

Which of the following is the least electronegative element and the most electronegative element, respectively?

Answer 7

francium, fluorine (D.)

Question 8

What elements have relatively small electronegativity values?

Answer 8

Electropositive elements (A)

Elements that have little drive to gain extra electron density are sometimes referred to as being electropositive.

Question 9

Which of the following periodic trends cannot be directly measured?

Answer 9

Electronegativity (D)

Electronegativity is a combination of measured quantities: ionization energy, electron affinity, and bond length.

Question 10

On which of the following is the concept of electronegativity not based?

Answer 10

Atomic radius (B)

The atomic radius is not a basis for the concept of electronegativity. Electronegativity is a combination of measured quantities: ionization energy, electron affinity, and bond length.

Question 11

The concept of electronegativity was developed by which one of the following scientists?

Answer 11

Pauling (C)

Linus Pauling developed the concept of electronegativity to describe the desire of an atom to take on (or to give up) additional electron density.