Video Transcript
Fill in the blank. The ability of an atom to attract a pair of electrons in a chemical bond is known as blank.
Let’s start by considering a covalent bond between two atoms that share a pair of electrons. It is the sharing of these electrons that binds the two atoms together. The way in which electrons are shared, however, is not always the same. For example, if the atom on the right tends to more strongly attract electrons, then the electrons in this bond will tend to reside more closely to that atom. However, if the atom on the left tends to more strongly attract the electrons, then we represent the electrons that are shared in this bond as residing closer to the atom on the left. And finally, if the two atoms tend to attract electrons equally, then the electrons will remain distributed equally between the two atoms.
In order to gain more information about each type of element as well as how they tend to attract electrons, we can consult the periodic table. The periodic table of the elements is set up in such a way that it gives significant information about the elements that are contained within it. For example, the atomic square in the top left of the periodic table represents the element hydrogen. In most periodic tables, we give at minimum the atomic number, the atomic symbol, and the average atomic mass for each element. The periodic table can also be used to understand periodic trends. And the periodic trend that applies to the ability of an atom to attract a pair of electrons in a chemical bond is electronegativity. And the trend of electronegativity tends to increase as you move to the right or up on the periodic table.
And now to apply this knowledge, we can refer back to the molecular representation of two atoms that share a pair of electrons. Remember that if the atom on the right tends to more strongly attract the electrons in a chemical bond, then the electrons will reside closer to that atom. Another way of saying that is that the atom on the right is more electronegative than the atom on the left.
And now with this information at hand, we can go back and answer the question. Fill in the blank. The ability of an atom to attract a pair of electrons in a chemical bond is known as blank. And the correct answer is electronegativity.
