electronegativity
nounUK /ɪˌlɛktrəʊnɛɡəˈtɪvɪti/
US /ɪˌlɛktroʊnɛɡəˈtɪvɪti/
How strongly an atom pulls shared electrons toward itself.
Fluorine has the highest electronegativity of all the elements.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A measure of an atom's tendency to attract bonding electrons in a molecule.
The large electronegativity difference makes the bond ionic.
3. The relative ability of an atom to draw electrons to itself within a covalent bond.
Oxygen's high electronegativity gives water its polar character.
4. A scale value, such as the Pauling number, that ranks elements by electron attraction.
Carbon's electronegativity is about 2.55 on the Pauling scale.