Which statement is true about electronegativity?

• A. Electronegativity decreases as you move up a group in the periodic table.
• B. Electronegativity generally increases from left to right across a period.
• C. Electronegativity is the same for all elements in a period.
• D. Noble gases have the highest electronegativity values.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of electronegativity: it is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond.
2. Recall the general trend of electronegativity in the periodic table: it increases from left to right across a period because atoms have more protons and a stronger pull on electrons.
3. Recognize that electronegativity decreases as you move down a group because atoms have more electron shells, which increases the distance between the nucleus and the valence electrons, reducing the nucleus's pull.
4. Note that noble gases typically have low or undefined electronegativity values because they rarely form bonds, so they are exceptions to the trend.
5. Conclude that the true statement is: electronegativity generally increases from left to right across a period.