Question

Which of the following elements has the highest electronegativity?

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

Hint:

Fluorine is the most electronegative element in the periodic table, followed by oxygen, chlorine, and others. When unsure, check the position of elements in the periodic table to determine their relative electronegativities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Electronegativity refers to the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. It generally increases across a period (left to right) and decreases down a group (top to bottom) in the periodic table.
- Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal with a low electronegativity.
- Chlorine (Cl) is a halogen, and it has high electronegativity but not the highest.
- Oxygen (O) has a high electronegativity but is still lower than that of fluorine.
- Fluorine (F) has the highest electronegativity of all elements, with a value of 3.98 on the Pauling scale.
Therefore, the element with the highest electronegativity is Fluorine.