What are the elements #S, F, Se# in order of decreasing electronegativity?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 25, 2016

#F, S, Se#

Explanation:

Electronegativity, conceived as #"the ability of an atom in a"# #"chemical bond to polarize electron density towards itself"#, INCREASES across a Period, but decreases down a Group. It is a contrived rather than a measured parameter, and there are various scales of which the Pauling Scale is the earliest, and probably still the most useful.

Given what I have said, #F# is the most electronegative element, followed by the 2nd row chalcogen #S#, and then the 3rd row chalcogen #Se#.

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