Which will have the lowest percent ionic character based on your knowledge of electronegativities? BaO or SrO?

1 Answer
Paul G.
Oct 17, 2017

SrO

Explanation:

The larger the difference in electronegativity between two elements, the greater the ionic character - electronegativity decreases as you move down a group on the periodic table.

As strontium (~1.0) is more electronegative than barium (~0.9), there would be a smaller difference between it and oxygen (~3.5) and as such it would have a lower ionic character than BaO.

ie.
BaO --2.6--> vs. SrO --2.5-->

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