Which element was arbitrarily assigned a value of 4.0 in the 'Halogens' section in 1922 by Linus Pauling, an American scientist?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Fluorine.
- In 1922, Linus Pauling, an American scientist, arbitrarily assigned the electronegativity value of 4.0 to fluorine. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.
- Pauling's electronegativity scale, although somewhat arbitrary, has been widely used as a reference to compare the relative electronegativities of different elements. Fluorine, being the most electronegative element, was chosen as the reference point with the value of 4.0.