Electronegative Atom
Definition
An electronegative atom has a high affinity for electrons, meaning it has a tendency to attract shared electrons in a covalent bond towards itself.
Analogy
Think of an electronegative atom like the popular kid at school. Just as everyone wants to be around the popular kid, electrons want to hang out with the electronegative atom.
Related terms
Electron Affinity: This is the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom or molecule to form a negative ion.
Ionization Energy: This is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion.
Polarity: This refers to the distribution of ions in molecules.
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