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Electronegativity values

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:44 pm
by jessicahe4Elavelle
Are we supposed to memorize electronegativity values? I know the general trend but if it asks for example: which pair has the most ionic character between CH4 and CF4, how am I supposed to know the electronegativity difference exactly.

Re: Electronegativity values

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2018 5:13 pm
by MaanasO 1A
Dr. Lavelle mentioned that we won't have to know the specific electronegativity values, but if for some reason we did, he'd give us the values.

Re: Electronegativity values

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2018 6:18 pm
by Mukil_Pari_2I
If you want to figure out the which has more ionic character for a specific molecule, just use the general trend to generally find the difference. We will not be expected to calculate the electronegativity difference unless the electronegativity values have been given to us. In the case of the problem you have given, CF4 has a higher ionic character than CH4 because based off the trend that electronegativity increases to the right and going up, fluorine is more electronegative than hydrogen and will pull the electrons in its bond with carbon closer to it. Thus, CF4 is more electronegative.