Chemistry Chemical Bonding SZABMU 2022
PMDC Verified Question 41 of 102
Which of the following has greatest difference of electronegativity?
A
HF
B
HCl
C
HBr
D
HI
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option A: HF
Concept:

Electronegativity decreases down Group 7 (Halogens). Therefore, the difference in electronegativity between Hydrogen and a Halogen is greatest with the halogen at the top of the group.

Formula:

$$ \Delta\text{EN} = |\text{EN}_{(\text{Halogen})} - \text{EN}_{(\text{Hydrogen})}| $$

Solution:

  • Hydrogen has a constant electronegativity of 2.1.


  • Fluorine is the most electronegative element (4.0).


  • The difference (\( 4.0 - 2.1 = 1.9 \)) is the highest. As you move to Cl (3.0), Br (2.8), and I (2.5), the difference shrinks steadily.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Option B, Option C, Option D: The halogen electronegativities are progressively lower, resulting in smaller \( \Delta\text{EN} \) and more covalent character.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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