What does electronegativity describe?

Electronegativity describes the ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself when it is bonded to another atom. This concept is crucial in understanding how atoms interact in chemical bonds, particularly in polar covalent and ionic bonds. Elements with high electronegativity, such as fluorine and oxygen, have a strong tendency to attract electrons, which influences the distribution of electron density in a molecule and affects its overall properties.

In contrast, the other options focus on different atomic or material properties that do not pertain to the concept of electronegativity. For instance, the ability to lose electrons relates to ionization energy, which measures how readily an electron can be removed from an atom. Conductivity is a different property that involves how well a material can carry heat or electricity, and malleability refers to how easily a substance can be shaped or deformed under stress. These concepts are important in their respective contexts but do not define electronegativity.