Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does a higher electronegativity indicate about an atom?

1. Higher atomic mass

2. Strong tendency to lose electrons

3. Strong attraction for electrons in a bond

4. Greater size of the atom

The correct answer is: Strong attraction for electrons in a bond

A higher electronegativity indicates a strong attraction for electrons in a bond. Electronegativity is a property that describes how effectively an atom can attract and hold onto electrons when it is part of a compound. Atoms with high electronegativity, such as fluorine and oxygen, tend to pull electrons toward themselves more than atoms with lower electronegativity values. This characteristic greatly influences the nature of chemical bonds, where elements with high electronegativity typically attract shared electrons more strongly, leading to polar covalent bonds or even ionic bonding when combined with much less electronegative elements. In contrast, concepts relating to atomic mass, electron loss tendencies, or atomic size do not directly address the meaning of electronegativity. Higher atomic mass does not correlate with electronegativity, and the tendency to lose electrons pertains more to metals with lower electronegativity. Lastly, while the size of the atom may influence some aspects of bonding, it does not define the atom's ability to attract electrons. Therefore, the answer that points to strong attraction for electrons in a bond aptly captures the concept of electronegativity.