The Pauling Scale is a numerical scale used to measure the electronegativity of elements, which indicates an atom's ability to attract electrons in a chemical bond. Developed by chemist Linus Pauling in 1932, the scale assigns values to elements, with higher numbers representing greater electronegativity. For example, fluorine has the highest value of 4.0, indicating it is the most electronegative element. This scale helps predict how atoms will interact in chemical reactions. Elements with similar electronegativity values tend to form covalent bonds, while large differences can lead to ionic bonds. The Pauling Scale is widely used in chemistry to understand bonding behavior and molecular structure.