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Electronegativity

Definition

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Elements with high electronegativity tend to pull electrons towards themselves more strongly.

Analogy

Think of electronegativity like magnets. Some magnets (atoms) are stronger and can pull metallic objects (electrons) towards them more effectively than others.

Related terms

Polarity: A property of molecules resulting from the uneven distribution of charges due to differences in electronegativity; leads to regions of partial positive and negative charge within the molecule.

Ionization Energy: The energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion; generally increases with increasing electronegativity because these atoms hold their electrons more tightly.

Electron Affinity: The amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom; elements with high electronegativity typically have high electron affinity as they readily accept additional electrons.