Question

The element with the highest electronegativity value is:
(A) Carbon
(B) Chlorine
(C) Fluorine
(D) Oxygen

Answer 1

“Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons”. The Pauling scale is generally used to measure electronegativity of all atoms in the periodic table.

Complete step by step solution:
-We know that as we move from left to right in the periodic table the electronegativity or electron affinity value of atoms or elements increases.
-As we from bottom to top the electronegativity or electron affinity value of atoms or elements increases.
-Now coming to given options, option A, carbon belongs to IV A group has an electronegativity value of 2.55.
-Option B, Chlorine belongs to VII A group has an electronegativity value of 3.16
-Option C, Fluorine belongs to VII A has an electronegativity value of ~3.98.
-Option D, Oxygen belongs to VI A has an electronegativity value of 3.44.
-Fluorine (the most electronegative element) is assigned a value of ~3.98, and values range down to caesium and francium which are the least electronegative at 0.7

So, the correction option is (C), Fluorine has the highest electronegativity (~3.98) or electron affinity value among the given options.

Note: Don’t be confused with the terms electronegativity or electron affinity. Both terms are going to represent the capability of an atom or element to accept electrons from other atoms. Electronegativity is used when the atom is bonded while electron affinity is used for isolated gaseous atoms.