Which element has the highest electronegativity?

• (A) C
• (B) Mg
• (C) O
• (D) S

The element with the highest electronegativity among the options provided is (C) O, which stands for oxygen. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons when it is part of a compound. In the periodic table, electronegativity tends to increase as you move from left to right across a period and decrease as you move down a group. To understand why oxygen has the highest electronegativity in this case, let’s break it down further.

Understanding Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a concept introduced by Linus Pauling, and it helps us predict how atoms will interact in chemical bonds. The most commonly referenced scale for electronegativity is the Pauling scale, where values range from around 0.7 (for cesium) to 4.0 (for fluorine, the most electronegative element).

Comparing the Elements

• Carbon (C): Carbon has an electronegativity of about 2.5. It is relatively good at attracting electrons, but not as strong as oxygen.
• Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium has a lower electronegativity of about 1.2. Being an alkaline earth metal, it tends to lose electrons rather than attract them.
• Oxygen (O): Oxygen has an electronegativity of approximately 3.5. This high value indicates a strong tendency to attract electrons, making it very effective in forming bonds, especially with less electronegative elements.
• Sulfur (S): Sulfur has an electronegativity of around 2.5, similar to carbon. While it can attract electrons, it does so less effectively than oxygen.