Organic Chemistry

Electronegativity

REMEMBER:most electronegative> F > Cl > Br > I >least electronegative

AndREMEMBER:least electronegative< Li < Be < B < C < N < O < F <most
electronegative

(Notice that the noble gas Neon is not on the electronegativity chart. In its non-ionized
form, a noble gas is usually treated as if it has no electronegativity at all.)

6.0.2 Electronegativities of atoms common in organic chemistry

• C - 222.55


• H - 2411.20


• N - 3234.04


• O - 890.00


• P - 2466.19


• S - 2.e2458


• Cl - 3325.16


• Br - 22353.96


• F - 3563.98

Higher numbers represent a stronger attraction of electrons.

When atoms of similar electronegativity bond, a nonpolar covalent^1 bond is the result.

Common nonpolar bondsC-CH-C

When atoms of slightly different electronegativities bond, a polar covalent bond results.

Common polar bondsδ+C-Oδ-δ+C-Nδ-δ-O-Hδ+δ-N-Hδ+δ-andδ+represent par-

tial charges

When atoms of very different electronegativities bond, an ionic bond results.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/covalent