Question

How can electronegativity be measured?

Answer 1

Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom or element to pulls the electron density of another species toward itself.In the periodic table from the left to right in the period electronegativity increases and hence, halogen possesses the highest value of electronegativity in the period. In the case of the group from top to bottom electronegativity decreases.

Complete step-by-step answer: The element with the higher nuclear force of the attraction possesses more tendency to attract the electron density and hence, such element acts as an electronegative element.Electronegativity is not measured directly. The main factors which determine the electronegativity are nuclear charge and the distance of the electron.The nuclear charge indicates the tendency of an atom or element to pull the electron density toward itself. The higher the number of protons higher is the nucleus force of attraction.Another factor that decides is the position or distance of the electrons from the nucleus. As the number of valence electrons of an atom increases leads to shielding the positive charge of an atom hence, the electronegativity of an atom decreases.Different methods are used to determine the electronegativity those are Mulliken electronegativity, Allred-Rochow electronegativity, Sanderson electronegativity equalization, and Allen electronegativity.

Note: The electronegativity is represented by using the letter $\chi$. An atom or species can attract the electron density toward itself.The elements which are left to the periodic table are electropositive hence, they are metals while elements that are on the right side of the periodic table are electronegative and act as non-metals.The elements in the middle of the periodic table show electronegativity in between metals and nonmetals.