electronegativity
Electronegativity is a measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons when it forms a chemical bond with another atom. It helps predict how different elements will interact with each other. Atoms with high electronegativity, like fluorine, tend to pull electrons closer, while those with low electronegativity, like sodium, are less effective at attracting them. The difference in electronegativity between two bonding atoms determines whether the bond will be covalent (shared electrons) or ionic (electrons transferred), influencing the properties of the resulting compounds. Understanding electronegativity aids in predicting chemical behavior and reactions.
Additional Insights
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Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons when it forms a chemical bond. It's crucial for determining how atoms interact with each other. The more electronegative an atom is, the stronger its pull on electrons. For example, in a water molecule, oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, leading to an uneven sharing of electrons. This difference creates a slight charge, making water a polar molecule, which influences many of its unique properties, like its ability to dissolve various substances. Electronegativity plays a key role in the behavior of molecules in chemistry.