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Q.Explain the factors that affect electronegativity.

Rajasthan RbseRajasthan Board Senior Secondary Part-I Examination 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Electronegativity rises with smaller atomic size, higher effective nuclear charge, and more s-character in bonding orbitals; it falls as shielding/number of shells increases.

Factors affecting electronegativity:

  1. Atomic size: Smaller atoms have their nucleus closer to the bonding electron pair, so they attract shared electrons more strongly, giving a higher electronegativity. Electronegativity therefore generally increases across a period (as size decreases) and decreases down a group (as size increases).

  2. Effective nuclear charge: A higher effective nuclear charge (the net positive pull felt by outer electrons, after accounting for shielding) increases the atom's ability to attract a bonded electron pair, increasing electronegativity.

  3. Screening (shielding) effect: Inner-shell electrons shield the nucleus's pull on outer/bonding electrons. More inner shells (going down a group) means greater shielding, which weakens the nucleus's grip on the shared pair and lowers electronegativity.

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