Which of the following is most electronegative in `p`-block elements

Options

A. Oxygen
B. Chlorine
C. Fluorine
D. Phosphours

Answer

To determine which of the following p-block elements is the most electronegative, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Electronegativity Trends
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. The general trends in the periodic table are:
- **Increases from left to right** across a period.
- **Decreases from top to bottom** within a group.

### Step 2: Identify the Elements
The elements we are considering are:
- Oxygen (O)
- Chlorine (Cl)
- Fluorine (F)
- Phosphorus (P)

### Step 3: Locate the Elements in the Periodic Table
- **Oxygen (O)** is in Group 16 (6A), Period 2.
- **Chlorine (Cl)** is in Group 17 (7A), Period 3.
- **Fluorine (F)** is in Group 17 (7A), Period 2.
- **Phosphorus (P)** is in Group 15 (5A), Period 3.

### Step 4: Compare Their Positions
- Fluorine is located in the second period and is the farthest to the right in its group.
- Chlorine is in the third period, which is lower than fluorine.
- Oxygen is also in the second period but is to the left of fluorine.
- Phosphorus is in the third period but is in a group that is to the left of chlorine.

### Step 5: Apply the Trends
According to the trends:
- Fluorine, being in Group 17 and Period 2, is the most electronegative.
- Chlorine, while also in Group 17, is in Period 3 and thus less electronegative than fluorine.
- Oxygen is less electronegative than fluorine as well.
- Phosphorus is the least electronegative among these elements.

### Conclusion
Based on the periodic trends, the most electronegative element among the given options is **Fluorine (F)**.

### Final Answer
The most electronegative element in the p-block is **Fluorine (F)**.

---