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Glite Dictionary
electronegative

electronegative

8.1
Pulls electrons toward an atom or molecule
  • adjective
  • /ɪˌlɛktrəˈnɛɡətɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : electronegativo
  • Among the four halogens, fluorine is the most electronegative and iodine the least.

So it's going to be the structure that has the negative charge on the most electronegative atom is the right structure.

Examples

  • And it makes sense that that formal charge is on the least electronegative atom.

  • Now carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen, right?

  • It, it sulfur is not as electronegative as oxygen, right?

  • They are between hydrogens that are on electronegative elements such as oxygen.

  • Fluorine is the most electronegative element, making it highly effective at attracting electrons.

  • In chemical reactions, atoms that are more electronegative tend to gain electrons from less electronegative atoms.

  • When comparing elements, chlorine is less electronegative than fluorine, but more than bromine.

Synonyms

negatively charged
vselectronegative
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A particle or object that has more electrons than protons

can mean a tendency to attract electrons rather than actually carrying extra electrons
electrophilic
vselectronegative
  • Specialized
9.0

A molecule or atom that attracts electrons and reacts with electron-rich substances

also means a tendency to attract electrons and can mean actually carrying extra electrons

Antonyms

electropositive
  • Specialized
9.8

Likely to lose electrons and become positively charged

How Electronegative

electronegative
  • Specialized
8.1
neutral
  • Specialized
4 5.2
electropositive
  • Specialized
9.8

Surface Forms

electronegative positive

Morphology

electronegative = negative (semi-transparent) = electro + negative

The word clearly combines the scientific prefix 'electro-' with 'negative', but the chemistry-specific meaning is specialized rather than fully guessable for an average learner.

Etymology

Electronegative begins with electro-, as in electric or electron, words about electric charge, and ends with negative, meaning 'minus' or 'having a minus charge'. So an electronegative atom pulls electrons toward itself and becomes partly negative.