Determining Difference in Electronegativity

[Ranger Saldivar 2D]

On page 75 of the course reader, it states that in order to be considered an ionic bond, heteronuclear atoms must have an electronegativity difference greater than two. How do we determine the values of electronegativity to determine if a bond should be considered ionic or covalent?

[Kelly Sun 3E]

Electronegativity values were experimentally calculated, which we do not need to do. You should be given a table of electronegativity values for each atom and you can calculate the difference from that.

[Asia Yamada 2B]

Electronegativity was experimentally calculated using both ionization energies and electron affinities, so you cannot determine those numbers yourself. I think that a table of electronegativity values should be provided to you, and from there, you can calculate the electronegativity difference between atoms and determine whether the bond is ionic or covalent.

[oliviahelou]

You can easily look up the electronegativity of an atom, you are not meant to know them by heart. Just look up "electronegativity of O" and compare.

[bree_wray_14a]

Hi, I believe Dr. Lavelle mentioned today in class that we do not need to know these values, so I assume that for problems involving this we would be given the electronegativity values.

[Molly McAndrew 1 1H]

When determining the differences in electronegativity values in class, Dr. Lavelle presented a table displaying the electronegativity values of various elements. So, I assume that if we were ever asked to determine the difference of these values in the future, we'd be given a similar table. I hope this helps!

[Alan Nguyen 2I]

To add to this question, is there a threshold value for identifying what energies apply to what types of bonds?

[Jennifer Kainth 3L]

I think Dr. Lavelle stated in one of the lectures that we do not need to know these values.  We will likely be given the electronegativity values for such problems. 

[Amanda Dankberg 1B]

To calculate exact values it is easiest to use the experimentally received values which should be given to you and then just find the difference

[Jeremiah Leonor 1J]

Exact values are calculated experimentally, no need to mermorize.

[Jeremiah Leonor 1J]

Exact values are calculated experimentally, no need to mermorize.

[Lindsey Walter 3E]

We will not be determining electronegativity values and any that we need will likely be provided for us! If we aren't given the specific values, I would assume that knowledge of the trends are sufficient for the specific problem.

[Harshitha_Pandian_3F]

Another helpful tip that my TA told us was that usually the further apart the atoms are on the periodic table the higher the difference in electronegativity is. For the actual test, Dr. Lavelle mentioned that if there was anything between 1.5 and 2 in difference in electronegativity he would give us a chart to find out the values.

[dahlia Faruque]

Hi, i do not think we need to know the values