Generally speaking, electronegativity values ______ from left to right across a row in the periodic table and _______ down a column.
decrease, increase
reverse, descend
move, fall
increase, decrease
The general trend in electronegativity is that the value increases from left to right across a row in the periodic table and decreases down a column. The most electronegative element is fluorine, which has a value of 4.0. As discussed in the lesson "Trends in the Periodic Table," electronegativity increases across a row as the number of protons in the nucleus increases and therefore has a stronger pull. Electronegativity decreases down a column due to an increased effect of electron shielding in larger atoms.