205k views
3 votes
The relative ability of a bonded atom to attract shared electron pairs is called its _____. This ability _____ as the size of the atom decreases because for a smaller atom the shared electrons will be closer to the nucleus.

A. electronegativity; increases
B. electron affinity; increases
C. electronegativity; decreases
D. electron affinity; decreases

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The correct answer is A. 'electronegativity; increases'. Electronegativity is the relative ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a bond and it increases as the atom's size decreases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relative ability of a bonded atom to attract shared electron pairs is called its electronegativity. This ability increases as the size of the atom decreases because for a smaller atom the shared electrons will be closer to the nucleus. Therefore, the correct answer is A. electronegativity; increases.

Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract shared electrons when it forms a covalent bond. As atoms get smaller, their ability to attract electrons in a bond increases. This is distinct from electron affinity, which is the energy change when an isolated atom gains an electron, and is not a measure of attraction in a bonded situation.

It is important to note that electronegativity is not a measurable physical quantity like electron affinity, but rather a calculated, dimensionless value that helps predict bonding behavior.

User Tyree
by
8.1k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.