Question

Name the following:
(a) The most electronegative element of Period 2
(b) The largest atom of Period 3

Hint:

Remember that Noble Gases (like Neon or Argon) are often excluded from general electronegativity trends because they do not readily form chemical bonds!

Answer 1

(a) Fluorine (F): Electronegativity increases across a period from left to right. Fluorine is the furthest to the right in Period 2 (excluding noble gases) and is the most electronegative element in the entire periodic table.

(b) Sodium (Na): Atomic size decreases across a period due to an increase in nuclear charge. Therefore, the element at the beginning of Period 3, Sodium, has the largest atomic radius in that period.