What kind of element is low in electronegativity?
2 Answers
Fairly high atomic number group 1 metal, for instance.
Explanation:
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract an approaching bonding pair of electrons from another atom.
It varies according to:
(a) the number of protons in the atom's nucleus (more of them = greater electronegativity)
(b) the atomic radius - the greater the radius, the less the attraction of incoming electrons
(c) the degree of screening of the approaching electron pair from the nucleus by the atom's outer electrons. (the more shielding the less attraction = the less electronegativity).
So a low electronegativity element is one that is low atomic number, large atomic radius, and with a greater number of screening outer electrons.
A typical example would be an element near the bottom of a group and on the left side of the periodic table.
Caesium is a good example.
A element that is low in electronegativity is an element that can become more stable by losing electrons ( 0r by not gaining electrons)
Explanation:
The elements that have the lowest electronegativity are the VIII A elements or noble gases. These elements have a theoretical electronegativity of zero. These elements are stable in their electron configuration there is not force moving the noble gases to gain any electrons.
The elements that have the lowest electronegativity beside the VIIIA are the I A elements or alkali metals. These elements would be more stable by having fewer electrons. There is little force moving these elements to gain more electrons. The force to attract electrons comes from the positive nucleus.
The larger the element the lower the electronegativity. The larger the element the greater distance from the positive nucleus. The greater the distance between the charges of the positive nucleus and the negative electrons the weaker the force. So the electronegativity is less.
In general the further down the periodic table and the further to the right the lower the electronegativity.
