Final answer:
Atoms with higher electronegativity acquire a partial negative charge, while atoms with lower electronegativity acquire a partial positive charge. Electronegativity can be represented by the delta symbol and increases from the lower left to the upper right corner of the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
When atoms form chemical bonds, the electronegativity of each atom plays a crucial role in determining whether they will carry a slight positive or negative charge. An atom's electronegativity is defined as its relative ability to attract electrons to itself when it is part of a chemical compound.
Conversely, an atom with lower electronegativity will acquire a partial positive charge (δ+) due to having fewer electrons than an atom with higher electronegativity in a bond. Additionally, the periodic table shows a trend where electronegativity increases diagonally from the lower left to the upper right corner, with fluorine typically being the most electronegative element and cesium the least.