AP BIOLOGY

BIOCHEMISTRY

POLAR AND NONPOLAR MOLECULES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What term refers to the strength of an atom to attract electrons to itself?
A
Polarity
B
Electronegativity
C
Valence
D
Octet
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Electronegativity is defined as the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself. The concept of an electronegativity scale for the elements was proposed by Pauling.

Detailed explanation-2: -Electronegativity is a measure of an atom’s ability to attract shared electrons to itself. On the periodic table, electronegativity generally increases as you move from left to right across a period and decreases as you move down a group.

Detailed explanation-3: -Elements with a high electronegativity ( ≥ 2.2 in Figure 2.12. 2) have very negative affinities and large ionization potentials, so they are generally nonmetals and electrical insulators that tend to gain electrons in chemical reactions (i.e., they are oxidants).

Detailed explanation-4: -Electronegativity is defined as a chemical property which decides the propensity of an atom to attract an electron. In the year 1932, Linus Pauling proposed the concept of electronegativity. Electron affinity is defined as the amount of energy liberated when a molecule or neutral atom acquires an electron from outside.

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