Can someone explain electro negativity?

Question

in their own words please?

i dont get it really.

i get that if you have an element has a high electro negativity number and it reacts with a low electro negativity number, then it will most likely make an ionic bond.

but how and why

Answer 1

Electronegativity is the capability of a atom to manage negative charge. Because F is the most electronegative atom I will compare it with Cl. F has 9 protons and 9 electrons in it's neutral state. Because the valence electrons are on the 2p orbital (the third orbital closest to the nucleus of the atom) they feel the attraction of the protons in the nucleus pulling them closer to the center. Cl is also electronegative but not as F. Even though Cl has more protons (17) in the nucleus the valence electrons are occupying a orbital farther away from the nucleus because the lower orbitals are full, so the pull to the electrons is weaker vs the pull of F. They are just opposite charge interactions (+vs -) depending on their distance from each other and since F has the closest distance of electrons vs protons it is the most electronegative atom of the periodic table. This is the simple detailed explanation.

The most electronegative atoms in order are:

*MNEMONIC* (Ignore lower case letters)

dr. F O N Cl   Br I S C, PHd