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Discover LudwigThe word 'electronegativity' is correct and can be used in written English
You can use it in a scientific context to describe the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. For example, "The electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen in a water molecule is responsible for the polar nature of the molecule."
Dictionary
electronegativity
noun
The tendency, or a measure of the ability, of an atom or molecule to attract electrons and thus form bonds
synonyms
Exact(39)
The bigger the difference in the electropositivity and electronegativity of the materials that make up a battery's electrodes, the bigger the voltage it can deliver.
Metallic tin is not electropositive enough compared with the electronegativity of its oxide to deliver a useful potential difference.This is partly explained because the bigger an atom is, the more weakly its outer electrons are bound to it (and hence the further those electrons are from the nucleus).
But this tendency is more than counterbalanced by an increase in the electronegativity of lead dioxide.
This structural knowledge assisted him in developing an electronegativity scale in which he assigned a number representing a particular atom's power of attracting electrons in a covalent bond.
Fluorine has the greatest electronegativity value (4.0, according to the Pauling scale), and cesium and francium have the smallest values (0.79 and 0.7, respectively).
In the periodic table, electronegativity typically increases in moving across a period and decreases in going down a group.
Similar(8)
The relative electronegativities of the various atoms can be determined by measuring the polarities of the bonds involving the atoms in question.
Pauling electronegativities of selected elements fluorine 3.98 oxygen 3.44 chlorine 3.16 nitrogen 3.04 bromine 2.96 iodine 2.66 sulfur 2.58 carbon 2.55 hydrogen 2.2 phosphorus 2.19 iron 1.83 sodium 0.93 Source: L. Pauling, The Nature of the Chemical Bond.
When nonmetal atoms with differing electronegativities react, they form molecules with polar covalent bonds.
There are two important features of this structure, which differ in detail from N2 on account of the different electronegativities of the two elements in CO.
In general, nonmetal atoms have higher electronegativities than metal atoms.
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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com