1. What is Electronegativity?

Electronegativity is a chemical property that describes an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. It's a dimensionless quantity typically measured on the Pauling scale, with values ranging from about 0.7 to 4.0.

2. How is Electronegativity Measured?

The most common scale is the Pauling scale, developed by Linus Pauling. Values are determined based on bond energies between atoms. Other scales include the Mulliken and Allred-Rochow scales.

3. Importance of Electronegativity

Details: Electronegativity helps predict:

• Bond type (ionic vs covalent)
• Bond polarity
• Chemical reactivity
• Molecular dipole moments
• Acid-base behavior

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Simply select an element from the dropdown menu to see its electronegativity value on the Pauling scale. The calculator provides values for common elements.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Which element has the highest electronegativity?
A: Fluorine (F) has the highest electronegativity at 3.98 on the Pauling scale.

Q2: What's the difference between electronegativity and electron affinity?
A: Electron affinity measures energy change when an electron is added to an atom, while electronegativity describes an atom's electron-attracting power in a bond.

Q3: How does electronegativity vary in the periodic table?
A: It generally increases across a period (left to right) and decreases down a group (top to bottom).

Q4: Can electronegativity predict bond type?
A: Yes, large differences (>1.7) typically indicate ionic bonds, while smaller differences indicate covalent bonds.

Q5: Why are noble gases often excluded from electronegativity scales?
A: They rarely form compounds, making it difficult to assign meaningful electronegativity values.