Definition

1. 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

1. having a negative charge
   • electrons are negative