Using what you know about the trend of electronegativity on the periodic table, which of the following elements would be the most electronegative?
a
Fluorine
b
Neon
c
Calcium
d
Iron
The most electronegative element is Fluorine (F).
To determine the most electronegative element among the options, let's consider the trend of electronegativity on the periodic table. Electronegativity generally increases from left to right across a period and decreases from top to bottom within a group.
Now, let's compare the given elements and their positions on the periodic table:
a) Fluorine is located in Group 17 (7A) and Period 2. It is the most electronegative nonmetal on the periodic table.
b) Neon is located in Group 18 (8A) and Period 2. It is noble gas and has a full valence shell, so it has low electronegativity.
c) Calcium is located in Group 2 (2A) and Period 4. It is a metal and tends to have lower electronegativity compared to nonmetals.
d) Iron is located in Group 8 (8B) and Period 4. It is a transition metal and typically has lower electronegativity compared to nonmetals.
Based on the trend of electronegativity on the periodic table, the most electronegative element among the given options is:
a) Fluorine
To determine which element would be the most electronegative among the options provided, we need to examine the trend of electronegativity on the periodic table.
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. It generally increases from left to right across a period on the periodic table and decreases from top to bottom within a group.
Looking at the options, Fluorine (F) is known to be the most electronegative element on the periodic table. Fluorine is located towards the top right of the periodic table and is the most electronegative element because it strongly attracts electrons.
Comparing the other options:
- Neon (Ne) is a noble gas and has a full valence shell, making it stable and having no tendency to attract electrons. Therefore, Neon is not the most electronegative element among the options.
- Calcium (Ca) is a metal and generally has a lower electronegativity because metals tend to lose electrons rather than attract them.
- Iron (Fe) is a transition metal and generally has a moderate electronegativity.
Therefore, the most electronegative element among the options provided is Fluorine (F).