[Campbell Biology P.10] Which of the following statements accurately defines electronegativ... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately defines electronegativity and explains a key consequence of a significant difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms?

  • A: Electronegativity is an atom's ability to attract electrons to itself when in a chemical bond; a large difference often leads to polar covalent or ionic bonds.
  • B: Electronegativity is the number of valence electrons an atom possesses; it determines the bond length between two atoms.
  • C: Electronegativity is the measure of an atom's overall size; a larger electronegativity indicates higher reactivity.
  • D: Electronegativity is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom; high electronegativity promotes the formation of metallic bonds.

Explanation

As stated in the 'Get Ready for This Chapter' section and implied by the example question, electronegativity refers to an atom's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond. A significant difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms causes unequal sharing of electrons, leading to polar covalent bonds, or in extreme cases, the complete transfer of electrons, forming ionic bonds.