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How does electronegativity change across and down the periodic table?
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periodic table
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements. To learn an element's name, atomic number, electron configuration, atomic weight, and more, select one from the table.
Electronegativity, which is the ability of an atom to attract a shared pair of electrons in a chemical bond, follows a clear trend based on an element's position in the periodic table.
- Across a period: Electronegativity generally increases as you move from left to right. This trend mirrors the increase in nonmetallic character across the table.1
- Down a group: Electronegativity generally decreases as you move from the top to the bottom of a group.1
Consequently, the most electronegative elements are located toward the top right of the periodic table, with fluorine being the most electronegative. Conversely, the least electronegative (or most electropositive) elements are found toward the bottom left, with cesium or francium representing the lowest values. This periodic behavior is closely related to other atomic properties, such as ionization potential and electron affinity.21