How do electronegativity values determine the charge distribution?

1 Answer
David Drayer
Sep 11, 2016

The atom with the greatest electronegativity attracts the electron cloud more strongly gaining the greatest negative charge.

Explanation:

Electronegativity is a measure of the attraction an atom has for electrons.

In #H_2# the two atoms have the same electronegativity so the charge is evenly distributed between the two atoms.

In # H_2O# The Oxygen has an electronegativity of 3.5 while Hydrogen has an electronegativity of only 2.1 There is a difference of 1.4 electronegativity. This is not enough difference to create an ionic bond. However there is enough difference to create a strongly polar bond.

The Oxygen gets the majority of the electron cloud resulting in a partial negative charge on the Oxygen atom. The Hydrogen atom which has less than half of the electron cloud resulting in a partial positive charge

A difference in electronegativity creates a difference in charge distribution.

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