Question

Electronegativity across a period while it down a group.

• A. increases
• B. decreases
• C. remains same
• D. $\mathrm{increases}\mathrm{then}\mathrm{decreases}$

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

decreases

Electronegativity is the tendency of an element to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself in a covalently bonded compound.
Down a group:
Atomic size increases, and nuclear pull decreases. Hence, electronegativity decreases.
Across a period:
Atomic size decreases, nuclear pull increases. Hence, electronegativity increases.