Analyze Your Graph

What trend exists between electronegativity values and atomic numbers within a group of elements on the periodic table? 

As the atomic number increases, the electronegativity decreases within a group. As the atomic number increases, the electronegativity increases within a period.

How does the trend in the halogen elements (group 17) compare to the alkali metals in group 1? 

The electronegativity values of the halogen elements are much higher than the alkali metals, but both groups show that as the atomic number increases, the electronegativity decreases within a group.

Why are the noble gases not included in your data set?

Noble gases have not been assigned electronegativity values because they do not easily form chemical bonds.

Find on your graph the elements in the second period of the periodic table (lithium, atomic number 3 to fluorine, atomic number 9) and compare the trend for the elements in the second period to those in the third period (sodium, atomic number 11 to chlorine, atomic number 17).

How is electronegativity used by chemists to predict bonding styles for elements on the periodic table? 

The greater the difference in electronegativity between two elements, the more polar the chemical bond formed between them.  Differences in electronegativity can be used to predict ionic, polar covalent, and nonpolar covalent bonding styles.

What other properties of elements have recognizable periodic trends?

Try graphing some of the other data provided in the Chem Data set to see if you can identify other periodic trends.

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