of the atoms below, ______ is the most electronegative. a) Na b) K c) Ba d) S

Question

a) Na b) K c) Ba d) S

Answer 1

The most electronegative element listed is Sulfer. Electronegativity is indirectly proportional to the atomic radius.

The trend of the Periodic table is that:

As you move down or to the left, the elements become less electronegative.
As you move up or to the right, the elements become more electronegative.

For example:

Francium (Fr) has the LOWEST electronegativity, and is found in the bottom left of the table.
Flourine (F) has the HIGHEST electronegativity, and is found in the upper right corner of the table.

Note: we disregard the 8th column--Noble Gases--in considering electronegativity because they are non-reactive. 

Answer 2

Hi Jasmine:

The most electronegative element from the choices given is Sulfur (S).

By definition electronegativity is the ability of an atom in a chemical compound to attract electrons to itself. Electronegativity is inversely proportional to atomic radius and increases as we go left to right across the periodic table. The noble gases (Group 8) are excluded from this rule as they are inert or non-reactive by nature. It decreases when you go down the periodic table as the atomic radius icreases. From these two observations we get F (Fluorine) as the most electronegative and Fr (Francium) as the least electronegative elements in the periodic table.

    Here is the order of the electronegativity of all the elements in your question:

 S(2.5) > Ba(1.0) = Na(1.0) > K(0.9)