Periodic Trends - Electronegativity Answers

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Periodic trends: Electronegativity answers.
Name _______________________________________
1. What is the electronegativity of an element?
It is the tendency of a bonded atom to accept or to donate an electron.
2. Is the “electronegativity” the same thing as the “electron affinity”?
No, the electronegativity relates to bonded atoms and their tendency to attract
electrons. Electron affinity has to do with an unbonded atom in the gaseous phase
becoming an anion.
3. Do you think that the electron affinity might have any impact on the
electronegativity?
Yes, if an element has a higher electron affinity, it is reasonable to assume it will
have a higher electronegativity. Energy is released when you add an electron to
elements with a high electron affinity. They should be more apt to attract
electrons from a less electronegative element.
4. Robert Mulliken developed the following equation to quantify electronegativity
based on atomic properties: EN = (IE + EA)/2, where EN = electronegativity, IE =
ionization energy, and EA = electron affinity. Does this equation make sense
based on what you know about ionization energy and electron affinity? Explain.
A higher IE means that it is more difficult to get an electron away from an atom.
A higher EA means that it is easier to put an extra electron onto an atom. If you
add a high IE to a large EA, then you end up with a high electronegativity.
Both a high EA and IE indicate an atom that strongly attracts electrons, which is
consistent with an electronegative element.
5. Make a prediction about the trend you expect to see in electronegativity:
a. As you move from left to right across a period? Why?
It will increase. The elements to the right have a larger positive charge
within the nucleus, which means they will pull on electrons more strongly.
b. As you move down a group? Why?
It will decrease. The pull on the electrons goes down due to shielding of
outer electrons by inner electrons and the greater distance from the

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