Why is oxygen more electronegative than chlorine?

[MedGrl@2022]

According to EK after fluorine, oxygen is the second most electronegative atom. Why is this? What makes it more electronegative than chlorine?

Thanks!

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[Postictal Raiden]

According to EK after fluorine, oxygen is the second most electronegative atom. Why is this? What makes it more electronegative than chlorine?

Thanks!

I think since chlorine is larger than oxygen, the electrons are farther from the nucleus in chlorine than they are in oxygen. Consequently, the nucleus of oxygen attracts the electrons more than does the nucleus of chlorine.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

I think since chlorine is larger than oxygen, the electrons are farther from the nucleus in chlorine than they are in oxygen. Consequently, the nucleus of oxygen attracts the electrons more than does the nucleus of chlorine.

Thank you!

 

[chendricks1309]

Electronegativity gets higher going left to right on periodic table but decreases going from top to bottom. So Florine is the most electronegative at 4.

Electronegativity of an atom is defined as the power of the atom to attract electrons towards it in a covalent bond.
Trend: Electronegativity increases from left to right and decreases from top to bottom in the periodic table.
The most electronegative element is fluorine. Linus Pauling assigned a value of 4.0 for the electronegativity of fluorine. All other elements have values of electronegativity less than 4.0.

 

[drechie]

Can you explain why this is the case

 

[mehc012]

Can you explain why this is the case

Why what is the case? Specific questions have specific answers. If you want an overview of everything related to this, you're better off reading the review book or going to a class.