How do electronegativity values determine the charge distribution?
1 Answer
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
In
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.