Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
electronegativity
noun
/ɪˌlɛktrəʊnɪˈɡnætɪvɪti/
Definition
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.
Examples
- The electronegativity of chlorine is higher than that of sodium, resulting in the formation of ionic bonds.
- In water, oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, which leads to a polar covalent bond.
Meaning
It describes how strongly an atom can pull electrons towards itself when it forms a bond with another atom.
Synonyms
- electron affinity
- electronic tendency
