Electronegativity

Question 1

What is electronegativity?

Answer 1

power of an atom to attract the electron density in a covalent bond towards itself

Question 2

What is meant by electron density?

Answer 2

the way the negative charge is distributed within a molecule

Question 3

How is electronegativity measured?

Answer 3

pauling scale from 0-4 (greater number, more electronegative)

Question 4

What is electronegativity dependent on?

Answer 4

1. nuclear charge - larger nuclear charge, greater electronegativity
2. distance between nucleus and outer shell electrons - smaller ion, closer outer electrons to nucleus, greater electronegativity
3. shielding by inner shells - less shielding, greater electronegativity

Question 5

What is the general trend in electronegativity up a group?

Answer 5

increase - atoms smaller, less shielding, outer electrons closer to nucleus

Question 6

What is the general trend in electronegativity across a period?

Answer 6

increases - nuclear charge increases, smaller atoms, same shielding

Question 7

Put elements F,N,Cl,O in order of most to least electronegative

Answer 7

F > O > N > Cl

Question 8

What is polarity?

Answer 8

unequal sharing of electrons between covalently bonded atoms

Question 9

What is the bond polarity of two atoms which are the same?

Answer 9

-electrons MUST be shared equally
-same electronegativity
-non-polar
-charge is uniform

Question 10

What is the bond polarity of two different atoms in a bond?

Answer 10

-electrons in bond unequally shared
-different electronegativity
-electrons attracted to most electronegative
-charge is distorted
-polar

Question 11

What does the symbol delta plus mean for charge?

Answer 11

atom is partially positive

Question 12

What does the delta negative symbol mean for charge?

Answer 12

atom is partially negative