Electronegativity Difference Calculator
Calculate the electronegativity difference between two atoms to determine bond polarity and ionic character.
Enter Electronegativity Values
Bond Type Guidelines
- • Nonpolar Covalent: Difference < 0.5
- • Polar Covalent: 0.5 ≤ Difference < 1.7
- • Ionic: Difference ≥ 1.7
Electronegativity Difference
1.240
Polar Covalent
Ionic Character
25.2%
Covalent Character
74.8%
Bond Description
Electrons are shared unequally, creating partial charges
Dipole Direction
H → Cl (partial negative on Cl)
Calculation
|2.2 - 3.44| = 1.240
Understanding Electronegativity Difference
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond. The difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms determines the type of bond formed. Larger differences indicate more ionic character, while smaller differences indicate more covalent character. The Pauling scale is the most commonly used electronegativity scale, with fluorine having the highest value of 3.98.