Question

Electronegativity is defined as the power of an atom in a molecule to ________.

• A. Repel electrons towards itself
• B. Attract electrons towards itself
• C. Expand itself
• D. All of the above

Hint:

Electronegativity is essential for understanding chemical bonding, particularly in determining whether a bond will be ionic or covalent based on the electron-sharing behavior of atoms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Definition of Electronegativity
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself when involved in a bond. This property plays a key role in determining the bond polarity and the distribution of electron density in molecules.

Step 2: Correct Answer Analysis
- Option B is correct because electronegativity specifically refers to the attraction of electrons by an atom. - Option A is incorrect because electronegativity involves attraction, not repelling, electrons. - Option C is unrelated, as it does not describe the concept of electronegativity. - Option D is incorrect as it includes incorrect answers.

Step 3: Conclusion
Thus, the correct definition of electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself, as described in Option B.