Most Electronegative

Started by Jab1113
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Jab1113

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Quick question on electronegativity, Destroyer 2011 GC Q-59

Which Element is the most electronegative?

A. K
B. Mg
C. C
D. P
E. Br

Right away, i eliminated A and B because they are metals, then I eliminated C because carbon is not electronegative at all. So brought me to D and E. Looking at what we know about electronegativity, if it increases from L to R and B to T (F being the most electronegative), then why is the answer E and not D.

Br is more on the right but P is higher up. Can someone please explain this?
 
Way i look at it is I want to reach at F. So if P need to get to the F then it has to go 2 right and 1 up. But Br just need to go two Up. therefore Br is closer so is more electronegative.

Hope this help
 
I would think that DAT writers would not force us to make judgement calls like that... for those who took the DAT do they? lol

These are all measured vaules found on the periodic table. It seems unreasonable that we would have memorized them all; therefore, I would think it would be enough to know the trend: to the R and Up toward F.

*Oxygen is the second most electroneg.
 
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They way I was taught the order of Electronegativity from highest to lowest in my Gen Chem class was to use this "German" mnemonic: FOClNBrISCH.

F>O>Cl>N>Br>I>S>C>H

So to answer your question, you'd find the answer to be Br out of those choices.

If you try to say the mnemonic as a word it sounds German apparently. It's always been in my head ever since and it has never failed me!
 
They way I was taught the order of Electronegativity from highest to lowest in my Gen Chem class was to use this "German" mnemonic: FOClNBrISCH.

F>O>Cl>N>Br>I>S>C>H

So to answer your question, you'd find the answer to be Br out of those choices.

If you try to say the mnemonic as a word it sounds German apparently. It's always been in my head ever since and it has never failed me!

FONClBrISCH