Question

Why is the electronegativity of oxygen greater than that of carbon?

Answer 1

Electronegativity

• Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom in a molecule to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself.
• As the number of protons in the nucleus increases across the period table, so does the electronegativity.
• The electronegativity decreases with increasing atomic radius.

Electronegativity of oxygen greater than that of carbon

• Oxygen has a lower atomic radius.
• Its bonding electrons are closer to the nucleus and thus exert a stronger attraction.
• The bonding pair of electrons will feel more attraction from the oxygen nucleus than from carbon, resulting in higher oxygen electronegativity.