Of the main group elements, fluorine has the highest electronegativity (EN = 4.0) and cesium the lowest (EN = 0.79). This indicates that fluorine has a high tendency to gain electrons from other elements with lower electronegativities. We can use these values to predict what happens when certain elements combine.

What period has the highest electronegativity?

The electronegativity also increases up a group (column) of the periodic table. Lithium 1.0 and Francium 0.7 in Group I. Therefore Francium (Fr) in the lower left Group I Period 7 has the lowest electronegativity value at 0.7 and Fluorine (F) upper right Group 17 Period 2 has the highest electronegativity value at 4.0.

Which column has the highest electronegativity values?

Fluorine has the highest electronegativity and in general, moving down a column and across a row (to the left) from fluorine electronegativity decreases. The electronegativity values shown in the table below are relative with fluorine having a value of 4.0.