What does a higher electronegativity value indicate about an atom's ability?

A higher electronegativity value signifies that an atom has a greater ability to attract and hold onto electrons compared to atoms with lower electronegativity values. This is due to the effective nuclear charge experienced by the valence electrons, which influences how strongly an atom can attract electrons from other atoms, particularly in chemical bonds.

For example, fluorine, the most electronegative element, is highly effective at pulling electrons toward itself when forming compounds, leading to polar covalent bonds when bonding with less electronegative elements. This property is crucial in understanding the nature of chemical bonding, reactivity patterns in different elements, and how these factors influence molecular structures and interactions.

The other choices do not directly relate to the concept of electronegativity in the same context as electron attraction.