wikiHow Electronegativity Calculator Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's tendency to attract electrons towards itself when it is involved in a chemical bond. There are various scales used to quantify electronegativity, such as the Pauling scale or the Mulliken scale. The Pauling scale is the most commonly used scale. It assigns electronegativity values to elements ranging from 0.7 (for the least electronegative element, cesium) to 4.0 (for the most electronegative element, fluorine). The electronegativity value is a relative measure, indicating how strongly an atom attracts electrons compared to other elements. The electronegativity difference between two atoms in a chemical bond can be used to determine the polarity of the bond. It can be calculated by subtracting the electronegativity value of the less electronegative atom from the electronegativity value of the more electronegative atom. For example, in the molecule HCl (hydrogen chloride), the electronegativity of chlorine is 3.0, and the electronegativity of hydrogen is 2.1. The electronegativity difference can be calculated as follows: Electronegativity difference = Electronegativity of chlorine - Electronegativity of hydrogen = 3.0 - 2.1 = 0.9 This electronegativity difference suggests that the H-Cl bond is polar, with chlorine being slightly more electronegative than hydrogen. It's important to note that electronegativity values can vary depending on the scale used and the element involved. Additionally, electronegativity values are based on experimental data and trends observed in chemical compounds, so they are not absolute values but rather relative measures. Page