Nonmetals?

[Sana_Mian_3G]

Are nonmetals more electronegative than metals? Does this have to do with their placement on the periodic table?

[StudentD2B]

Yes nonmetals are more electronegative than metals and this does have to do with their placement on the periodic table in that electronegativity increases up a group and left to right across a period. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. Electronegativity increases across a period because the positively charged protons in the nucleus attract the negatively charged electrons. As the number of protons in the nucleus increases, the electronegativity or attraction will increase. As you move down a group on the periodic table, the electronegativity of an element decreases because the increased number of energy levels puts the outer electrons very far away from the pull of the nucleus.

[Asia Yamada 2B]

Nonmentals are more electronegative than metals and this is a periodic trend. Electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group. It increases across a period because even though the number of electrons are increasing, they’re being added to the same shell, so it doesn’t affect shielding. This means the effective nuclear charge increases. Electronegativity decreases down a group because electrons are being added to higher shells, so there is an increased amount of shielding, so the effective nuclear charge decreases.