1. What is Electronegativity?

Electronegativity is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom to attract a shared pair of electrons (or electron density) towards itself. For metals, electronegativity values are generally lower than nonmetals, reflecting their tendency to lose electrons.

2. Understanding the Pauling Scale

The Pauling scale is the most commonly used electronegativity scale, developed by Linus Pauling. It is dimensionless and ranges from about 0.7 to 4.0:

Key points about the Pauling scale:

• Values are relative, with fluorine assigned 3.98 (most electronegative)
• Metals typically have values below 2.0
• Alkali metals have the lowest values among metals

3. Importance of Electronegativity in Metals

Details: Metal electronegativity affects:

• Corrosion resistance
• Alloy formation
• Catalytic properties
• Reactivity in chemical reactions
• Electrical conductivity

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Simply select a metal from the dropdown menu to see its Pauling scale electronegativity value. The calculator provides the standard accepted value for each metal.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why do metals have low electronegativity?
A: Metals have few valence electrons and large atomic radii, making it easier to lose electrons than attract them.

Q2: Which metal has the highest electronegativity?
A: Gold (Au) has the highest Pauling electronegativity (2.54) among common metals.

Q3: How does electronegativity vary in the periodic table?
A: Electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group for metals.

Q4: Can electronegativity predict metal reactivity?
A: Generally, lower electronegativity correlates with higher reactivity for metals.

Q5: Are there other electronegativity scales?
A: Yes, including Mulliken and Allred-Rochow scales, but Pauling's is most widely used.