Q: What physical property of an element determines whether it acquires a positive or negative partial charge when participating in a polar covalent bond?

What physical property of an element determines whether it acquires a positive or negative partial charge when participating in a polar covalent bond?

Flexi Says: Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom to attract the electrons when the atom is part of a compound. Electronegativity differs from electron affinity because electron affinity is the actual energy released when an atom gains an electron. Electronegativity is not measured in energy units, but is rather a relative scale.