Question

The outermost electronic configuration of the most electronegative element is:
A. $n{s^2}n{p^3}$
B. $n{s^2}n{p^4}$
C. $n{s^2}n{p^5}$
D. $n{s^2}n{p^6}$

Answer 1

As we all know that electronegativity is the tendency of an atom in an element to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself. The electronegative compound attracts the shared pair of electrons towards itself and they tend to gain a negative charge.

Complete answer:
Let’s first understand electronegativity and then determine which element is most electronegative in the periodic table. After this, we determine the electronic configuration of the most electronegative element.
Electronegativity is the ability of an element to attract the shared pair of electrons in a covalent bond towards itself. Higher the value of electronegativity, stronger it will attract the electron pair. This concept of electronegativity was assigned by Linus Pauling in $1932$ on the Pauling scale in which fluorine was assigned a value of electronegativity of $3.98$.
Electronegativity of an element varies across the periodic table. The electronegativity decreases as we go down the group and it increases as we go left to right across the periodic table. So. Fluorine is the most electronegative element whereas francium is the least electronegative element.
So, the most electronegative element is fluorine. Fluorine is the ninth element and it has a total of nine electrons. It is located in group $17$.
The electronic configuration of fluorine is $1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^5}$
So, the outer shell electronic configuration of $n{s^2}n{p^5}$.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note:
It must be remembered that fluorine is the most electronegative element in the periodic table. The value of electronegativity is $3.98$ on the Pauling scale. Note that helium, argon and neon are not listed in the electronegativity Pauling scale.