Question

Which of the following options correctly describe the general trends in electronegativity? Select all that apply.

A. Electronegativity tends to decrease down a group of the periodic table.
B. Electronegativity tends to decrease from left to right across a period of the periodic table.
C. Fluorine is the most electronegative element.
D. Electronegativity tends to increase as atomic size increases.
E. Metals tend to have lower electronegativities than nonmetals.

Answer 1

Electronegativity decreases down a group and increases from left to right across a period, with fluorine being the most electronegative element and metals having lower electronegativities than nonmetals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The general trends in electronegativity across the periodic table are as follows:

• (A) Electronegativity tends to decrease down a group of the periodic table.
• (C) Fluorine is the most electronegative element.
• (E) Metals tend to have lower electronegativities than nonmetals.

Contrary to option B, electronegativity actually tends to increase from left to right across a period of the periodic table. And for option D, electronegativity generally decreases as atomic size increases, so this statement is also incorrect.