Inorganic Chemistry (B.A./B.Sc) 1st Sem Previous Year Solved Question Paper 2022

One common method to determine electronegativity is to use the Pauling scale. Linus Pauling, a Nobel laureate in chemistry, developed this scale to quantify the relative electronegativities of elements. 
Electronegativity is a measure of an element's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond. Here’s how the Pauling scale works:

1. Definition: In the Pauling scale, the electronegativity values are assigned to each element based on their behavior in various chemical compounds and their bond strengths.
2. Reference Element: Hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F) serve as reference elements. Hydrogen has an electronegativity value of 2.20, while fluorine is assigned the highest value of 3.98.
3. Scale: The electronegativity values of other elements are determined relative to hydrogen and fluorine. Elements that are less electronegative than hydrogen have values less than 2.20, while elements more electronegative than fluorine have values greater than 3.98.
4. Intermediate Values: For elements between hydrogen and fluorine on the periodic table, intermediate electronegativity values are assigned based on their position and characteristics. 
For example, oxygen has an electronegativity value of 3.44, which falls between hydrogen and fluorine.
5. Trends: The Pauling scale reflects periodic trends, with electronegativity generally increasing across a period from left to right and decreasing down a group on the periodic table. Elements in the same group have similar electronegativity values.
6. Application: The Pauling electronegativity values are used to predict the nature of chemical bonds. Larger differences in electronegativity between two atoms in a bond indicate ionic or polar covalent bonds, while smaller differences suggest nonpolar covalent bonds.

While the Pauling scale is widely used and provides valuable information about electronegativity trends, it’s important to note that electronegativity is a somewhat abstract concept, and there are other scales and methods used to determine electronegativity, such as Mulliken electronegativity and the Allred-Rochow scale. The choice of scale may depend on the specific application and context in which electronegativity is being considered.