How does electronegativity change from top to bottom?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 13, 2016

Electronegativity DECREASES down a Group but INCREASES across a Period (from left to right).

Explanation:

Electronegativity is conceived to be the ability of an atom in an element to polarize electron density towards itself. When we exclude the Noble Gases, elements to the right of the Periodic Table are the most electronegative, (cf. electronegativities of nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine).

Down a Group, while nuclear charge, #Z#, has increased, the nuclear charge is shielded by full electron shells, and electronegativity necessarily decreases.

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