Question

Which of the following elements has the highest electronegativity?

• A. Oxygen
• B. Fluorine
• C. Chlorine
• D. Nitrogen

Hint:

Tip: Fluorine is the most electronegative element; it's used as a benchmark in Pauling’s scale.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and bond with electrons. In the periodic table, electronegativity generally increases across a period from left to right and decreases down a group. Among the given options:

• Oxygen (O): Second most electronegative element, found in group 16.
• Fluorine (F): Highest electronegativity, located in group 17.
• Chlorine (Cl): Less electronegative than fluorine, also in group 17 but one period below fluorine.
• Nitrogen (N): Less electronegative than oxygen, found in group 15.

Thus, among Oxygen, Fluorine, Chlorine, and Nitrogen, Fluorine has the highest electronegativity.

Answer 2

The concept of electronegativity refers to the ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Among the elements, fluorine is known to have the highest electronegativity. This is attributed to its small atomic radius and high effective nuclear charge, which enables it to exert a stronger pull on electrons.
Let's consider the given options:

• Oxygen: has an electronegativity value of approximately 3.44 on the Pauling scale.
• Fluorine: has an electronegativity value of approximately 3.98, being the highest among all elements.
• Chlorine: has an electronegativity value of approximately 3.16.
• Nitrogen: has an electronegativity value of approximately 3.04.

By comparing these values, it is apparent that fluorine has the highest electronegativity.