The elements with the highest electronegativity values tend to be found where on the periodic table?

Question

Noah Aldrich · Accepted Answer

Electronegativity increases ACROSS a Period, and decreases down a Group.

The tendency of an atom in a chemical bond to polarize electron density towards itself is known as electronegativity. Nuclear charge and electron shielding play major roles in this process. As we face the table, nuclear charge increases sequentially from left to right as #Z# increases. As we look at the Table, the elements on the right should have greater electronegativity; in actuality, oxygen and fluorine are the most electronegative elements (Noble Gases do not tend to form chemical bonds and so escape consideration). Complete electron shells tend to shield each other very imperfectly, and this is manifested by the well-known decrease in atomic radius across the Period from left to right. Down a Group, the nuclear charge tends to be shielded by inner core electrons, and thus fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine, which is more electronegative than bromine, etc. So the important point to note: #"Electronegativity increases across a Period"#.

Cooper Anderson · Answer

undefined The elements with the highest electronegativity values tend to be found in the upper right corner of the periodic table.