Polarizability v. Electronegativity

[Seohyun Park 1L]

What exactly is the difference between polarizability and electronegativity? I know electronegativity is the pull of electrons and is the cause of dipole moments, but is polarizability only relevant in the induced dipole-induced dipole intermolecular force?

[annaspain]

Electronegativity describes an element's ability to pull electrons closer towards its nucleus, which explains why electronegativity increases across a period (elements "want" electrons more to reach octet) and decreases down a group (atomic radius is larger so shielding causes a looser grip on electrons). Polarizability is basically how dipoles are formed. So, polarizable elements must be relatively flexible, so elements that are likely to have higher polarizability must also have a weaker pull on their electrons towards the central nucleus, therefore being less electronegative.

[Jocelyne Milke 1G]

Polarizability is how easily electrons are distorted. Bigger molecules have higher polarizability because there are more electrons and they are more easily distorted.

[Sarah Jeong 4F]

Basically if a molecule has a great amount of electronegative difference, they are usually polar. For example, H20. The electronegative difference is large, therefore more electrons go toward oxygen, giving the oxygen a partial negative, and hydrogen a partial positive(polar molecule).