Question

How do the following properties vary in periodic table?

(v) Electronegativity

Answer 1

Electronegativity

It is the tendency or ability of an element to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself.

Trends in the periodic table

1. Down the group:- As the atomic size and nuclear charge down the group increases, the increase in atomic size overcomes the effect of the nuclear charge. Therefore the electronegativity decreases down the group.
2. Across the period:- As the atomic number increases the nuclear charge also increases. Therefore the electronegativity increases as we move from left to right across the period.

Thus, the electronegativity increases across the period and decreases down the group.