Electronegativity, Basic Introduction, Periodic Trends - Which Element Is More Electronegative?

Arsenic is more electronegative than chromium. Nonmetals like arsenic are generally more electronegative than metals, and arsenic is closer to fluorine on the periodic table.

Electronegativity is an atom's ability to attract an electron to itself. Fluorine is a highly electronegative element because it strongly desires to acquire an electron to fill its outer energy level and satisfy the octet rule. Nonmetals tend to be electronegative, while metals tend to be electropositive, giving away electrons.

Electronegativity generally increases as you move up and to the right across the periodic table, with fluorine being the most electronegative element. Noble gases do not have electronegativity values as they are stable and do not desire electrons.

To rank elements by increasing electronegativity, place them on the periodic table. Oxygen, being closest to fluorine, will have the highest electronegativity, while rubidium, an alkali metal, will have the lowest. The final order is rubidium < manganese < copper < phosphorus < oxygen.

The nickel 3+ cation is more electronegative than the nickel 2+ cation. When the element is the same, the ion with the higher positive charge is usually more electronegative.

The chlorine cation is more electronegative than the chlorine anion. Positively charged ions have a stronger desire for electrons than negatively charged ions, which repel electrons.

Zinc is more electronegative than calcium. As you move to the right across the periodic table, atoms become smaller and tend to have higher electronegativity values.

Selenium is more electronegative than tellurium. Electronegativity increases as you go up within a column on the periodic table, meaning smaller atoms like selenium have higher electronegativity.