Whose work explained the periodic trend in electronegativity across the elements?

Linus Pauling introduced a practical electronegativity scale in 1932, helping chemists compare how strongly different atoms attract electrons in a bond. His scale explained many patterns in bonding and reactivity across the periodic table, especially among nonmetals and halogens. Electronegativities increase toward the upper right of the periodic table, with fluorine at the top of the commonly used Pauling scale. Pauling’s work became a standard tool in chemistry education and research.