How do electronegativity values determine the bonding in a compound?
1 Answer
The electronegativity determine the nature of the bonding in a compound, from non polar to ionic.
Explanation:
A chemical bond forming a compound occurs when the atoms "share" electrons.
Electronegativity determines the nature of the "sharing" of the electrons in the chemical bond.
If the Electronegativity is very close to the same between the two atoms the electrons are shared roughly evenly. Each atom will have close to 50% of the electron density. This equal or close to equal sharing results in a non polar bond. This occurs in molecules like Hydrocarbons such as octane, and Nitrogen
If the Electronegativity is very different between the two atoms, the electrons are shared very unevenly. One atom (or polyatomic ion) will the vast majority of the electron density. The other atom (or polyatomic ion) will have very little of the electron density. This will result in one atom having a positive charge and the other atom having a negative charge. This type of unequal sharing results in an ionic bond.
A polar covalent bond comes from atoms that have a difference in electronegativity but not as great as the differences in an ionic bond. In a polar covalent bond one atom will have a partial positive charge and the other atom will have a partial negative charge.
