Definition
Electronegativity is a measure of the electron attracting power of an atom, or group of atoms, in a molecule. Several electronegativity scales exist, based on different physical properties, but all of them are highly correlated. Electronegativity is used for a variety of purposes in chemistry, providing both an intuitive concept with which to rationalize chemical trends and values that are highly correlated with a number of chemical and physical properties.
Introduction
Electronegativityis one of the most ambiguously defined but useful concepts commonly employed in chemistry. In 1806, Humphry Davy posited that the chemical affinity between two substances was related to the degree of difference in their electrical properties, i.e., their ability to obtain and hold positive or negative charge. Avogadro expanded upon it and gave similar suggestions in 1809, when he envisioned a relative scale on which all simple...
Keywords
- Dissociation Energy
- Partial Charge
- Carbon Capture
- Bond Dissociation Energy
- Covalent Radius
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References
Allred, A. L., 1961. Electronegativity values from thermochemical data. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 17, 215–221.
Allred, A. L., and Rochow, E. G., 1958. A scale of electronetativity based on electrostatic force. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 5, 264–268.
Bergmann, D., and Hinze, J., 1996. Electronegativity and molecular properties. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition in English, 35, 150–163.
Bickmore, B. R., Tadanier, C. J., Rosso, K. M., Monn, W. D., and Eggett, D. L., 2004. Bond-valence methods for pK a prediction: critical reanalysis and a new approach. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 68, 2025–2042.
Brown, T. L., 2003. Making Truth: Metaphor in Science. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. 215 p.
Jensen, W. B., 1996. Electronegativity from Avogadro to Pauling. Part I. Origins of the electronegativity concept. Journal of Chemical Education, 73, 11–20.
Li, Y.-H., 2000. A Compendium of Geochemistry: From Solar Nebula to the Human Brain. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 475 p.
Malito, J., 1995. A plethora of electronegativity scales. Chimica Oggi-Chemistry Today, 13, 57–64.
Mullay, J., 1987. Estimation of atomic and group electronegativities. Structure and Bonding, 66, 1–25.
Oliferenko, A. A., Pisarev, S. A., Palyulin, V. A., and Zefirov, N. S., 2006. Atomic charges via electronegativity equalization: generalizations and perspectives. Advances in Quantum Chemistry, 51, 139–156.
Pauling, L., 1932. The nature of the chemical bond IV. The energy of single bonds and the relative electronegativity of atoms. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 54, 3570–3582.
Sanderson, R. T., 1983. Polar Covalence. New York: Academic Press. 240 p.
Slater, J. C., 1930. Atomic shielding constants. Physical Review, 36, 57–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Bickmore, B.R., Wander, M.C.F. (2016). Electronegativity. In: White, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_222-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_222-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39193-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth & Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials Science