In a covalent bond, the relative ability of each atom to attract the bonded pair of electrons towards itself is calledElectronegativityBondDipoleNone of these

The correct answer is Electronegativity.

Explanation

Electronegativity is a fundamental concept in chemistry that describes the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. In covalent bonds, atoms share pairs of electrons, but they do not always share them equally. The electronegativity of an atom indicates how strongly it can pull these shared electrons toward itself.

Different elements have different electronegativities, which are often measured on the Pauling scale. For instance, fluorine has the highest electronegativity value, meaning it is very effective at attracting electrons. Conversely, elements like sodium have lower electronegativities and are less effective at attracting electrons in a bond.

The difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms influences the bond's polarity. When two atoms with significantly different electronegativities form a bond, the more electronegative atom will attract the shared electrons more strongly, resulting in a polar covalent bond and creating a dipole. Therefore, in the context of the question, the ability to attract bonded electrons correlates directly to the electronegativity of the atoms involved in the bond.