How are electronegativity values determined?
1 Answer
In an
Explanation:
There are various scales of electronegativity, of which the Pauling scale was the earliest, and still the most widely used.
Pauling conceived electronegativity to be the ability of an atom in a chemical bond to polarize electron density towards itself. Pauling used parameters such as electron affinity and ionization potential, and then jiggered around with these values so that he got a scale of approx.
Given the definition I proposed, it is no surprise that the most electronegative element is fluorine, which on the Pauling scale has a value of
It is well known that electronegativity increases across a Period (from left to right as we face the Table), and decreases down a Group. Simple ideas with respect to electrostatics and electronic shielding can rationalize these phenomena. I invite you to do so.
