Textbook electronegativity model fails when it comes to carbon–halogen bond strengths
Computational analysis finds that it’s size, not electronegativity differences, determining bond strength within periodic table groups
Chemical bonds generally become stronger as the electronegativity difference between their participating atoms increases. But scientists now found evidence that undermines what they say is textbook knowledge: in some cases the differences in atom sizes, not electronegativity differences, determine bond strengths trends.