Question

moving left to right across the periodic table, electronegativity ____; moving down the periodic table, electronegativity ____.

increases; increases

decreases; increases

increases; decreases

decreases; decreases

Explanation:

Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons. As you move left - to - right across a period, the nuclear charge increases and the atomic radius decreases, so electronegativity increases. As you move down a group, the atomic radius increases and the outermost electrons are farther from the nucleus, so electronegativity decreases.

Answer:

C. increases; decreases