Which element, if combined with chlorine, will have the greatest attraction for the chlorine electrons? N P As

The Nitrogen (N) will have the greatest attraction for the chlorine electrons.

Answer: A) N

Explanation

The tendency or the ability to attract electrons is termed as electronegativity.

The electronegativity tend to increase from left to right in the periods and bottom to top in the groups of the periodic table. So it is known that the halogen group consists of the most electronegative elements.

Though chlorine has high electronegativity of 3.16, the electrons of chlorine can be attracted by other electronegative elements provided that their electronegativity should be in the range of the electronegativity of Cl.

So among the elements given, Nitrogen (N) has an electronegativity of 3.04, Phosphor (P) has an electronegativity of 2.19 and Arsenide electronegativity is 2.18.

Thus it can be seen that the electronegativity is maximum for Nitrogen among the three elements so it should have the greatest tendency to attract Cl electrons.