electron affinity,
in chemistry, the amount of energy liberated when an electron is added to a neutral atom to form a negatively charged ion. The electron affinities of atoms are difficult to measure, hence values are available for only a few chemical elements, chiefly the halogens.s with ionization energy,
there are two rules that govern the periodic trends of electron affinities: 1 Electron affinity becomes less negative down a group. 2 As the principal quantum number increases, the size of the orbital increases and the affinity for the electron is less.
Electronegativity is defined as a chemical property which decides the property of an atom to attract an electron. In the year 1932, Linus Pauling proposed the concept of electronegativity. Electron affinity is defined as the amount of energy liberated when a molecule or neutral atom acquires an electron from outside.
First electron affinities are typically negative values. This is because when an electron is added to a neutral atom, energy is released in an exothermic process. The second electron affinity is the energy required to add a second electron to an anion.more easily accepts electrons
Based on this sign convention, this means that a higher electron affinity indicates that an atom more easily accepts electrons. A lower electron affinity indicates that an atom does not accept electrons as easily.
Electron affinity increases from left to right within a period. This is caused by the decrease in atomic radius. Electron affinity decreases from top to bottom within a group. This is caused by the increase in atomic radius.
Noble gas elements have completely filled outer-shell. Such electronic configurations are highly stable and as such noble gases find it difficult to accept electrons. Thus electron affinity of noble gas elements is zero.Electron Affinity Trends
As the name suggests, electron affinity is the ability of an atom to accept an electron. Unlike electronegativity, electron affinity is a quantitative measurement of the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral gas atom. The more negative the electron affinity value, the higher an atom's affinity for electrons.
Periodic Table showing Electron Affinity Trend

Electron affinity generally decreases down a group of elements because each atom is larger than the atom above it (this is the atomic radius trend, discussed below). This means that an added electron is further away from the atom's nucleus compared with its position in the smaller atom. With a larger distance between the negatively-charged electron and the positively-charged nucleus, the force of attraction is relatively weaker. Therefore, electron affinity decreases. Moving from left to right across a period, atoms become smaller as the forces of attraction become stronger. This causes the electron to move closer to the nucleus, thus increasing the electron affinity from left to right across a period.
Electron affinity increases from left to right within a period. This is caused by the decrease in atomic radius.
Electron affinity decreases from top to bottom within a group. This is caused by the increase in atomic radius.
Periodic trends
The amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom to form an anion is called the electron affinity. Electron affinities are hard to measure.
Electron affinity increases from left to right during a period due to nuclear attraction.
The decrease in group electron affinity should decrease since the electron is continuously added away from the nucleus. The electron becomes less binding and can be easily removed
At some point, as we move from left to right the size of the atom decreases due to an increase in nuclear energy and therefore an increase in electron gain enthalpy. Although as you go down in a group on a periodic table, the size of the atom increases thus causing a decrease in the amount of electron gain enthalpy.The first electron affinity is always exothermic that negative. The second affinity electron of the same element will be positive or endothermic. This is because the second electron must be forced into the mono negative ion ion. Electron affinity cannot be determined directly but is found indirectly in the Born-Haber cycle.
Factors Affecting Electron Affinity
1. Atomic size: If the size of the atom is small, then there will be a very large electron enthalpy because the active nuclear energy will be larger than the smaller atoms and the electrons will be held firmly in place.
2. Nuclear Charger: The higher the nuclear value, the greater the amount of electron gain enthalpy because the increase in nuclear exchange increases the nuclear power in the valence electrons.
What is the process of electron bonding?
Electron Affinity increases over a period of time from left to right due to rising nuclear costs and a decrease in atomic size. Electron Affinity lowers the band due to the increase in atomic size
Is electron affinity positive or negative?
When an electron is added to a neutral atom, energy is released and Electron Affinity is usually exothermic. Due to the downgrade of electronics, the second Electron Affinity could be good
Who got the idea of electron bonding?
Electron Affinity is a concept discovered in 1901 as a result of the discovery of electron negativity by Linus Carl Pauling. Electron Affinity is the amount of change in energy when an electron-electron is applied to a neutral atom.
Why is the electron affinity of decent gases ideal?
The enthalpy advantage of halogen electron is not very good because by receiving more electron they can get a stable high-quality gas configuration. Decent gases have a remarkable enthalpy in the electron gains.
Why do halogens have high electron affinity?
The coherence of high halogen electrons is due to their small size, high nuclear charge and the outer shell of the electrons. When an electron is added to a halogen with a higher electron affinity, a higher energy is released
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