Electronegativity

Electronegativity is the measure of the ability of an atom or a molecule to attract a pair of electrons in a covalent bond.

Two scales of electronegativity are in common use: the Pauling scale (proposed in 1932) and the Mulliken scale (proposed in 1934). Another proposal is the Allred-Rochow scale.

Pauling Scale

The Pauling scale was devised in 1932. On this scale, the most electronegative element (fluorine) is given an electronegativity value of 4.0; the least electronegative element (francium) has a value of 0.7, and the remaining elements have values in between. The elements in the second period of the periodic table are sometimes given rounded values (to make them easier to remember):

  • Li: 1.0
  • Be: 1.5
  • B: 2.0
  • C: 2.5
  • N: 3.0
  • O: 3.5
  • F: 4.0

On the Pauling scale, hydrogen is arbitrarily assigned a value of 2.1 or 2.2.

Mulliken Scale

On the Mulliken scale, numbers are obtained by averaging ionization potential and electron affinity. Consequently, the Mulliken electronegativities are expressed directly in energy units, usually electron volts. It was proposed by Robert S. Mulliken in 1934.

Electronegativity Trends

Each element has a characteristic electronegativity ranging from 0 to 4 on the Pauling scale. The most strongly electronegative element, fluorine, has an electronegativity of 4 while weakly electronegative elements, such as lithium, have values close to 1. The least electronegative element is francium at 0.7. Electronegativity trends are to higher values for elements in the top right of the periodic table. The δEN indicates the ionic character of a bond. Bonds between atoms with a large electronegativity difference (greater than or equal to 1.7 on the Pauling scale) are usually considered to be ionic, while values between 1.7 and 0.4 are considered polar covalent. Values below 0.4 are considered non-polar covalent bonds. Electronegativity differences of 0 indicate a completely non-polar covalent bond.

Electronegativity decreases down the periodic table and increases across, as shown below. Additionally, atomic radius decreases across but ionization energy increase.

Atomic radius decreases → Ionization energy increases → Electronegativity increases →
Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Period
1 H
2.20
He
 
2 Li
0.98
Be
1.57
B
2.04
C
2.55
N
3.04
O
3.44
F
3.98
Ne
 
3 Na
0.93
Mg
1.31
Al
1.61
Si
1.90
P
2.19
S
2.58
Cl
3.16
Ar
 
4 K
0.82
Ca
1.00
Sc
1.36
Ti
1.54
V
1.63
Cr
1.66
Mn
1.55
Fe
1.83
Co
1.88
Ni
1.91
Cu
1.90
Zn
1.65
Ga
1.81
Ge
2.01
As
2.18
Se
2.55
Br
2.96
Kr
3.00
5 Rb
0.82
Sr
0.95
Y
1.22
Zr
1.33
Nb
1.6
Mo
2.16
Tc
1.9
Ru
2.2
Rh
2.28
Pd
2.20
Ag
1.93
Cd
1.69
In
1.78
Sn
1.96
Sb
2.05
Te
2.1
I
2.66
Xe
2.6
6 Cs
0.79
Ba
0.89
Lu
1.27
Hf
1.3
Ta
1.5
W
2.36
Re
1.9
Os
2.2
Ir
2.20
Pt
2.28
Au
2.54
Hg
2.00
Tl
1.62
Pb
2.33
Bi
2.02
Po
2.0
At
2.2
Rn
 
7 Fr
0.7
Ra
0.9
Lr
 
Rf
 
Db
 
Sg
 
Bh
 
Hs
 
Mt
 
Ds
 
Rg
 
Uub
 
Uut
 
Uuq
 
Uup
 
Uuh
 
Uus
 
Uuo
 
Periodic table of electronegativity using the Pauling scale

Template:Chem-stubca:Electronegativitat cs:Elektronegativita de:Elektronegativität es:Electronegatividad fr:Électronégativité it:Elettronegatività he:אלקטרושליליות nl:Elektronegativiteit ja:電気陰性度 pl:Elektroujemność pt:Eletronegatividade ro:Electronegativitate ru:Электроотрицательность fi:Elektronegatiivisuus sv:Elektronegativitet zh:鲍林标度 uk:Електровід'ємність

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