Question

The most electronegative element among the following is:

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

Hint:

This element sits at the top right of the periodic table, just before the noble gases.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

We need the element with the strongest tendency to attract shared electrons in a bond.

1. Sodium is an alkali metal, it readily gives away its outer electron, so it has very low electronegativity.
2. Bromine is electronegative but it is a period 4 halogen, larger in size than fluorine, so its pull on electrons is weaker.
3. Oxygen is electronegative too, but it is one group to the left of fluorine, giving it a lower value.
4. Fluorine has the smallest atomic radius among all elements that form stable compounds, and the highest effective nuclear pull on bonding electrons, giving it the highest electronegativity value on the Pauling scale, about 3.98.

Hence fluorine, option C, is the most electronegative element listed.