What is the effect of increasing atomic number on electronegativity within a gro
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of increasing atomic number on electronegativity within a group?
It increases
It decreases
It remains the same
It fluctuates
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the effect of increasing atomic number on electronegativity within a group?
Step 1: Understand what atomic number means. The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
Step 2: Know what a group is. A group is a column in the periodic table where elements have similar properties.
Step 3: Recognize that as you move down a group, the atomic number increases. This means there are more protons in the nucleus.
Step 4: Realize that with more protons, there are also more electron shells added. This increases the distance between the nucleus and the outermost (valence) electrons.
Step 5: Understand electronegativity. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a bond.
Step 6: Remember that a greater distance between the nucleus and valence electrons weakens the nucleus's pull on those electrons.
Step 7: Conclude that because the pull is weaker, electronegativity decreases as you go down a group.
