Which of the following factors is most closely related to an atom's tendency to attract electrons in a chemical bond, thereby influencing its reactivity?

• A. Electronegativity
• B. Atomic mass
• C. Melting point
• D. Number of neutrons

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is asking about the property of an atom that determines how strongly it attracts electrons when forming chemical bonds.
2. Recall that electronegativity is defined as the ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond, which directly influences its chemical reactivity.
3. Recognize that atomic mass, melting point, and number of neutrons do not directly describe an atom's tendency to attract electrons in bonds.
4. Conclude that among the given options, electronegativity is the factor most closely related to an atom's electron-attracting tendency and reactivity.
5. Therefore, the correct choice is electronegativity because it quantifies how strongly an atom pulls electrons toward itself in a bond.