Question

Electronegativity _____. generally increases moving from left to right across a period generally decreases moving from left to right across a period generally increases moving from right to left across a period generally decreases moving from right to left across a period

Answer 1

Answer: generally increases moving from left to right across a period

Explanation:

Electronegativity is defined as the property of an element to attract a shared pair of electron towards itself. The size of an atom decreases as we move across the period because the electrons get added to the same shell and the nuclear charge keeps on increasing. Thus the electrons get more tightly held by the nucleus.

As, the size of an element decreases, the valence electrons come near to the nucleus. So, the attraction between the nucleus and the shared pair of electrons increases.

Hence, the correct statement is electronegativity generally increases moving from left to right across a period

Answer 2

I believe the correct answer would be that electronegativity generally increases moving from left to right across a period. The periodic table of elements is arranged so that trends of the properties of the elements can be shown. For electronegativity, it decreases from right to left which means for the opposite direction it increases.