Electronegativity refers to what ability of an atom?

Electronegativity is defined as the tendency of an atom to attract shared electrons when it forms a chemical bond. This property is crucial in determining how electrons are distributed in a molecule, influencing its shape, reactivity, and overall chemical behavior. Atoms with high electronegativity, such as fluorine and oxygen, have a strong ability to pull electrons toward themselves, leading to polar covalent bonds where the shared electrons are closer to the more electronegative atom. This understanding of electronegativity is fundamental in predicting how different atoms interact and bond with each other in various chemical reactions.