electronegativity
A measure for the ease with which an atom can attract electrons to itself. Electronegative elements attract electrons, so forming negative ions.
US chemist Linus Pauling devised an electronegativity scale to indicate the relative power of attraction of elements for electrons. Fluorine, the most non-metallic element, has a value of 4.0 on this scale; oxygen, the next most non-metallic, has a value of 3.5.
In a covalent bond between two atoms of different electronegativities, the bonding electrons will be located close to the more electronegative atom, creating a dipole.
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