Why is oxygen electronegative?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the reason behind oxygen's electronegativity, which refers to its tendency to attract electrons in a chemical bond. This involves discussing the atomic structure, electron affinity, and the periodic trends that influence electronegativity.
Answer
Oxygen's high nuclear charge and small atomic radius make it highly electronegative.
Oxygen is electronegative because of its high nuclear charge and small atomic radius, which allows it to attract and hold onto electrons strongly.
Answer for screen readers
Oxygen is electronegative because of its high nuclear charge and small atomic radius, which allows it to attract and hold onto electrons strongly.
More Information
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold electrons. Oxygen's relatively large nuclear charge compared to its atomic size allows it to exert a stronger pull on electrons.
Sources
- Why is Oxygen Electronegative? - Shishir Iyer - Medium - shishir-iyer.medium.com
- Why is oxygen more electronegative than hydrogen? : r/chemistry - reddit.com
- Why is the electronegativity of oxygen GREATER than that of carbon? - socratic.org
