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What is electronegativity?

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Quick answer

Electronegativity is a measure of how strongly an atom pulls shared electrons toward itself in a chemical bond. Large differences in electronegativity decide whether a bond is balanced or lopsided — which shapes how molecules behave. It ranks atoms by their pull on bonding electrons; fluorine is the strongest.

Key things to understand

  1. It ranks atoms by their pull on bonding electrons; fluorine is the strongest.
  2. A big difference makes one atom partly negative and the other partly positive (a polar bond).
  3. This polarity is why water is a great solvent and sticks to itself.
  4. Roughly equal sharing gives a nonpolar bond.
  5. It increases across the periodic table toward the top-right.

People also ask

Why does electronegativity matter?
It determines bond polarity, which controls a molecule's shape, solubility, and reactivity — including why water behaves so specially.
Which element is most electronegative?
Fluorine pulls bonding electrons the hardest, making it the most electronegative element.
What is a polar bond?
A bond where electrons are shared unequally because one atom is more electronegative, giving the molecule slightly charged ends.