📘 Answer
Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element in the periodic table.
Its electronegativity on the Pauling scale is approximately 3.98, the highest value of all elements.
🔍 Why does Fluorine have the highest electronegativity?
- Fluorine has a very small atomic radius.
- It has a relatively high effective nuclear charge.
- Its valence shell is close to the nucleus.
- Therefore, it strongly attracts the shared electron pair in a chemical bond.
↓
Strong Attraction for Shared Electrons
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Highest Electronegativity
📊 Important Comparison
| Element | Approx. Pauling Electronegativity |
|---|---|
| F | 3.98 |
| O | 3.44 |
| Cl | 3.16 |
| N | 3.04 |
✅ Final Answer
Fluorine (F)
Fluorine has the highest electronegativity in the periodic table, with a Pauling electronegativity of approximately 3.98.
20 MCQs with Answers
1. Which element has the highest electronegativity?
✅ Answer
C) Fluorine
2. The electronegativity of fluorine on the Pauling scale is approximately:
✅ Answer
D) 3.98
3. Fluorine belongs to which group?
✅ Answer
C) 17
4. Fluorine has high electronegativity mainly because of:
✅ Answer
B) Small atomic radius
5. Which element is more electronegative than chlorine?
✅ Answer
A) Fluorine
6. Electronegativity generally increases:
✅ Answer
C
7. Fluorine is a member of the:
✅ Answer
C) Halogens
8. Which property of fluorine contributes to its high electronegativity?
✅ Answer
A) Small atomic size
9. Which has the greatest attraction for a shared electron pair?
✅ Answer
D) F
10. The highest electronegativity is found toward the:
✅ Answer
B) Top-right
11. Which is the most electronegative halogen?
✅ Answer
D) F
12. Which element has electronegativity approximately 3.44?
✅ Answer
B) O
13. The small atomic radius of fluorine results in:
✅ Answer
B
14. Fluorine has how many valence electrons?
✅ Answer
C) 7
15. Fluorine belongs to which block?
✅ Answer
B) p-block
16. Which element has higher electronegativity?
✅ Answer
A) F
17. Electronegativity measures the ability of an atom to:
✅ Answer
A
18. Which element has the strongest non-metallic character among the following?
✅ Answer
C) Cl
19. Fluorine's high electronegativity is associated with:
✅ Answer
A
20. The correct statement is:
✅ Answer
B) Fluorine has the highest electronegativity
Q. Which element has the highest electronegativity in the periodic table?
Solution: Fluorine (F) has the highest electronegativity in the periodic table. Its Pauling electronegativity is approximately 3.98.
Q. Why does fluorine have the highest electronegativity?
Solution:
- Fluorine has a very small atomic radius.
- It has a high effective nuclear charge.
- Therefore, it strongly attracts the shared electron pair towards itself.
Q. Explain the reasons for the highest electronegativity of fluorine.
Solution: Fluorine has the smallest atomic radius among the halogens and a high effective nuclear charge. Its valence electrons are close to the nucleus. Hence, the attraction between the nucleus and the shared pair of bonding electrons is very strong. Therefore, fluorine has the highest electronegativity, approximately 3.98 on the Pauling scale.
Q. Discuss the position of fluorine in the periodic trend of electronegativity.
Solution:
Electronegativity generally increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group. Fluorine is located in Group 17 and Period 2. It has a very small atomic size and high effective nuclear charge.
Because its valence shell is very close to the nucleus, fluorine strongly attracts the shared pair of electrons in a covalent bond. Hence, it has the highest electronegativity of all elements.
Q. Explain in detail why fluorine has the highest electronegativity in the periodic table.
1. Small Atomic Size
Fluorine is a second-period element and has only two occupied electron shells. Its atomic radius is therefore very small.
2. High Effective Nuclear Charge
Fluorine has nine protons, while its inner-shell electrons provide relatively limited shielding. Thus its valence electrons experience a strong effective nuclear attraction.
3. Strong Attraction for Bonding Electrons
Because the valence shell is close to the nucleus, fluorine strongly attracts the shared electron pair in a covalent bond.
4. Periodic Trend
Electronegativity generally increases across a period and decreases down a group. Fluorine is at the upper-right side of the periodic table (excluding noble gases), where electronegativity is highest.
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High Effective Nuclear Charge
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Strong Attraction for Shared Electrons
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Highest Electronegativity: F
Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element in the periodic table. Its Pauling electronegativity is approximately 3.98.
🎯 Quick Revision
Group: 17
Period: 2
Block: p-block
Pauling value: ≈ 3.98
Main reason: Small atomic radius + high effective nuclear charge
