QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
"Which statement best describes the electronegativity of an element?
A. Electronegativity of an atom is its ability to lose electrons during cation formation.
B. Electronegativity of an atom is its ability to share electrons during a covalent bond formation.
C. Electronegativity of an atom is its ability to gain electrons during anion formation.
D. Electronegativity of an atom is its ability to produce energy while losing an electron.
E. Electronegativity of an atom is its ability to attract electrons during bond formation."
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Answer
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Step 1: Understand the concept of electronegativity
Electronegativity is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself when forming a chemical bond.
Step 2: Analyze the given options
Option A is incorrect because electronegativity is not about losing electrons; it's about attracting them. Option B is the correct answer since electronegativity is the ability of an atom to share electrons during a covalent bond formation, where the more electronegative atom will attract the shared electrons more strongly. Option C is partially correct in that electronegativity is about gaining electrons, but only during anion formation, not its general definition. Option D is incorrect because electronegativity doesn't produce energy while losing an electron. Option E is correct in the sense that electronegativity is about attracting electrons, but it is not specific enough to be the best description.
Final Answer
The electronegativity of an atom is its ability to share electrons during a covalent bond formation, where the more electronegative atom will attract the shared electrons more strongly (option B).
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