One scale for electronegativity is based on the concept that the electronegativity of any atom is proportional to the ionization energy of the atom minus its electron affinity: electronegativity = k1I - EA2, where k is a proportionality constant. (b) Why are both ionization energy and electron affinity relevant to the notion of electronegativity?
Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 102c
One scale for electronegativity is based on the concept that the electronegativity of any atom is proportional to the ionization energy of the atom minus its electron affinity: electronegativity = k1I - EA2, where k is a proportionality constant. (c) By using data in Chapter 7, determine the value of k that would lead to an electronegativity of 4.0 for F under this definition.

1
Step 1: Understand the problem. The problem is asking us to find the value of the proportionality constant 'k' in the given equation for electronegativity. The equation is electronegativity = k(I - EA), where I is the ionization energy and EA is the electron affinity.
Step 2: Look up the values for the ionization energy and electron affinity for Fluorine (F) in Chapter 7. Let's denote these values as I_F and EA_F respectively.
Step 3: Substitute the given electronegativity value of 4.0 for Fluorine, and the values of I_F and EA_F into the equation. This gives us 4.0 = k(I_F - EA_F).
Step 4: Solve the equation for 'k'. To do this, rearrange the equation to isolate 'k' on one side. This gives us k = 4.0 / (I_F - EA_F).
Step 5: The value obtained from the above calculation is the value of the proportionality constant 'k' that would lead to an electronegativity of 4.0 for Fluorine under the given definition.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons when forming chemical bonds. It is a dimensionless quantity that helps predict how atoms will interact in compounds. The scale of electronegativity can vary, but it is often used to understand the polarity of bonds and the reactivity of elements.
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Ionization Energy
Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom in its gaseous state. It reflects how strongly an atom holds onto its electrons; higher ionization energy indicates a stronger attraction. This property is crucial in determining an atom's electronegativity, as atoms with high ionization energies tend to be more electronegative.
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Electron Affinity
Electron affinity is the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gas phase. It indicates how much an atom wants to gain an electron. A higher electron affinity means that an atom is more likely to attract additional electrons, which also influences its overall electronegativity.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Textbook Question
One scale for electronegativity is based on the concept that the electronegativity of any atom is proportional to the ionization energy of the atom minus its electron affinity: electronegativity = k1I - EA2, where k is a proportionality constant. (d) Use your result from part (c) to determine the electronegativities of Cl and O using this scale. Use your result to determine the electronegativity of Cl using this scale.