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Electronegativity is the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract shared electrons to itself. There are a few reasons why electronegativity values increase while going across periods. 1. Most elements follow the octet rule. They gain, lose, or share electrons with other elements to have eight valence electrons in their outer shell. Not all elements follow this rule but that is not important here. The reason they do this is because having a full outer shell will cause the atoms become more stable. 2. Think about metals and the aspects of their ionic bonds. They transfer their electrons to certain nonmetals (in many cases). They have a very low electronegativity because metals do not have many valence electrons. It takes much less energy to remove one or two electrons than it does to add six or seven. 3. The same goes for nonmetals. They tend to have 5, 6, or 7 valence electrons. It takes much less energy to gain 1, 2 or 3 electrons than it does to remove the 5, 6, or 7. Think about this: Why would Lithium, which has 1 valence electron, attract 7 more electrons to have a full outer shell? That would take way too much energy. In nature, Lithium would simply lose that electron to an element with a high electronegativity, such as Fluorine. Fluoride has 7 valence electrons so again, why would Fluorine lose seven electrons instead of just gaining one? Everything has to do with energy here. The less energy it takes to remove or add an electron, the better. I hoped this helped!

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15y ago
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7y ago

Moving to the right within a period (increasing atomic number) shows an increase in the number of protons in the nucleus but no increase in the distance of outer electrons from the nucleus (no increase in energy level). So, electrons are more attracted, thus higher electronegativity.

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13y ago

It increases from left to right across a period and decreases down in a group.

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9y ago

Electronegativity increases along a period. This is because non-metallic character increases.

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Q: Why does the electronegativity of the elements increase as the atomic number in a period increases?
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Related questions

What increases as you move up a column of the periodic table?

Electronegativity, ionization energy, electron affinity, and atomic number are values that increase from left to right across a period.


Why does the electronegativity increase as the atomic number increases?

The number of electrons increases with the atomic number. So the electronegativity increases with the atomic number. Not quite. Electronegativity doesn't consistently increase with atomic number. For example, F is more electronegative than Na, even though Na has a higher atomic number.


What are the characteristics of a period in the periodic table?

Elements in a period all have the same number of electron shells (excepting the transition elements). Also, electronegativity increases left to right and up, and atomic radii increase right to left and down.


What happens to electrons when you move from left to right across a period?

I think you are talking about electroNEGATIVITY. It increases as move from left to right and increases from bottom to top. Check out Fluorine, it has the highest electronegativity, about 4.00


Is it true or is it false Electronegativity increases continuously as atomic number increases?

False, because the only element with the highest Electronegativity is hydrogen and the atomic number is 1.


Why is it that the electronegativity decreases when the atomic radius increases?

Four


When looking across a period of the periodic table from left to right when happens to the atomic number and electronegativity?

As you move from the left to right, the atomic number increases. Also, the electronegativity increases.


What major change occurs as you move from left to right across periodic table?

the atoms of the element are less reactive and smaller. they are smaller because of the larger amount of valence electrons compacting the atom.What_moves_left_to_right_on_the_periodic_table


What is the trend found in Period 3 on the Periodic Table as the elements increase in atomic number?

1-Atomic size = decreases 2-Ioniztion energy = increases 3-Electronegativity = increases (except Argon) 4-Metallic character = decreases 5-Melting point = first increases then decreases


Differentiate the trends in periodic table?

Atomic size increases to the bottom left, and the following increase up and to the right with exceptions: Electronegativity Electron Affinity (Z-effective) Ionization Energy Elements to right have fuller valence shells, etc


As you move across a period of a periodic table from left to right what happens to the elements electronegativity?

it decreases


Why do elements increase in size as you move down the periodic table?

Down the group, atomic radius increases. This is due to increase in number of shells.