electronegative
/i'lektrou'negətiv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having a negative electric charge: Describes an atom, ion, or particle that carries a negative electrical charge, typically due to an excess of electrons.
- Tending to attract electrons: In chemistry, describes the relative ability of an atom in a molecule to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond.
Usage and Examples
- Adjective:
- The oxygen atom is highly electronegative, which influences the polarity of the water molecule.
- In an ionic bond, the electronegative chlorine atom gains an electron from the sodium atom.
Advanced Usage
- Electronegativity (n): The quantitative measure of an atom's ability to attract bonding electrons, often represented on the Pauling scale.
- Fluorine has the highest electronegativity value on the Pauling scale.
Variants and Related Words
- Electropositive (adj): Having a positive electric charge or a tendency to lose electrons.
- Metals are generally electropositive elements.
Synonyms
- Negatively charged: Having a surplus of electrons.
- Electron-attracting: Tending to pull electrons toward itself (in a chemical context).
Antonyms
- Electropositive: Having a positive charge or a tendency to donate electrons.
- Positively charged: Having a deficit of electrons.
Adjective
- having a negative charge
- electrons are negative