Learning Path
Question & Answer1
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Explore TopicChoose the Best Answer
A
Electronegativity decreases across a period and increases down a group.
B
Electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group.
C
Electronegativity increases across a period and remains constant down a group.
D
Electronegativity decreases across a period and remains constant down a group.
Understanding the Answer
Let's break down why this is correct
Answer
Electronegativity rises steadily from left to right across a period because atoms gain more protons while keeping the same shielding, which pulls electrons in more tightly. It falls down a group because each added shell pushes electrons farther from the nucleus and increases shielding, reducing the pull on bonding electrons. Thus, elements on the right side of a period are more eager to attract electrons, while those deeper in a group are less eager. For example, fluorine (right of period) has a much higher electronegativity than sodium (left of the same period), and chlorine (top of group 17) is far more electronegative than iodine (bottom of that group).
Detailed Explanation
Across a period the number of protons increases while the shielding electrons stay almost the same, so the nucleus pulls more strongly on the electrons that want to join. Other options are incorrect because This answer mixes up the direction; Keeping electronegativity the same down a group ignores the extra shells that shield the outer electrons.
Key Concepts
definition of electronegativity
trends in electronegativity across periods
trends in electronegativity down groups
Topic
Electronegativity
Difficulty
hard level question
Cognitive Level
understand
Practice Similar Questions
Test your understanding with related questions
1
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Question 3Which of the following statements best describes the trend in electronegativity as one moves across a period and down a group in the periodic table?
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Question 4Which of the following statements best describes how electronegativity changes across a period in the Periodic Table?
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Question 6How does the trend of electronegativity across periods and groups influence the polarity of bonds in compounds?
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Question 7As you move down a group in the periodic table, how does the trend in electronegativity relate to atomic radius?
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Question 8Which of the following statements best describes how electronegativity changes across a period in the Periodic Table?
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Question 9Which of the following properties generally increase as you move from left to right across a period in the Periodic Table? (Select all that apply)
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Question 10How does the trend of electronegativity across periods and groups influence the polarity of bonds in compounds?
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