concept check

[rita_h]

Is the atom in the center of the structure always the one with low ionization energy (high electronegativity)?
Also, are electronegativity and ionization energy considered to be opposites?
(the higher the amount of energy needed to remove an electron [ionization], the lower the atom's ability to attract electrons[electronegativity]?

[Henry_2A]

Hi!
Yes, in most cases, the central atom tends to be the atom with the lowest ionization energy. Yes, I believe ionization energy and electronegativity are opposites.

[Elena Chan 2L]

Hi Rita! If you think about it technically, yes, electronegativity can be seen as the opposite of ionization energy. When the ionization energy is lower, the more it wants to remove an electron and become a cation and the less electronegative it is. The higher the ionization energy is, the harder it is to remove an electron but can have a higher electronegativity that attracts electrons. This can be seen through periodic table trends about ionization energy and electronegativity. Noble gases are exceptions however. Hope this helps!

[Emily Widjaja 3A]

hello,

i think you got it right!

[Crystal Ma 2J]

Yes! You're correct; electronegativity and ionization energy trends are opposite!

[Matthew Vu 3C]

Yes, the atom in the center is typically the least electronegative. Also, you are correct in that electronegativity and ionization energy are opposites.

[Jillian Sarquiz- 2B]

The atom in the center always has the lowest ionization energy. I believe the trend for ionization energy and electronegativity is the same, as both increase as you move up and right in the periodic table.

[Amanda Pineda 3H]

Yes, in lecture, Professor Lavelle said that the atoms in the middle are usually the ones with the lowest electronegativity of the atoms given in a molecule. This electronegativity of an atom is in fact inversely proportional to an atom's ionization energy, meaning low electronegativity will have high ionization energy. Hope this helps!

[Madison Rhynhart 3H]

Yes! The atom with the lowest ionization energy goes in the center because it will need to share more electrons than that of other atoms in the structure.