Electronegativity
Electronegativity
The relative tendency of an atom in a chemical bond to attract the bonding electron density toward itself. A larger electronegativity difference generally makes a bond more polar; electronegativity is distinct from electron affinity.
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Glossary and deeper reading · 2 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
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Electronegativity
Electronegativity describes an atom's tendency to attract shared electron density in a bond. It helps predict bond polarity but is not the same as ionization energy or electron affinity. For example, oxygen attracts shared electrons more strongly than hydrogen in an O–H bond.
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Electron affinity
Electron affinity describes the energy change associated with adding an electron to a gaseous atom. Tables may use different sign conventions, so the stated definition and sign must be checked. For example, adding an electron to a chlorine atom releases energy under the usual energy-change convention.