What element has the highest electronegativity on the periodic table?

Fluorine is recognized as the element with the highest electronegativity on the periodic table. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons when it is part of a chemical bond. Fluorine’s high electronegativity is primarily due to its atomic structure; it has seven valence electrons and needs only one more to achieve a full octet, which makes it highly reactive and effective at attracting electrons.

In comparison with the other elements listed, oxygen has a lower electronegativity than fluorine, though it also has a strong ability to attract electrons. Chlorine is less electronegative than fluorine, albeit still quite electronegative in its own right. Nitrogen has a lower electronegativity than both fluorine and chlorine. This trend across the periodic table indicates that electronegativity increases from left to right and decreases from top to bottom, confirming fluorine's position at the far right of the halogens, contributing to its status as the most electronegative element.