The electronegativity of bromine is 2.96 on the Pauling scale. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. In the case of bromine, its relatively high electronegativity indicates that it has a strong ability to attract electrons when it forms chemical bonds.
Bromine is located in group 17 of the periodic table, known as the halogens. Elements in this group tend to be quite electronegative, with fluorine being the most electronegative element of all. This property plays a significant role in the chemistry of bromine, influencing how it interacts with other elements and compounds.
For instance, when bromine bonds with sodium (Na) to form sodium bromide (NaBr), bromine attracts the electron from sodium, allowing the formation of an ionic bond. Thus, understanding the electronegativity of bromine helps in predicting its behavior in chemical reactions.