Electron affinity is the energy associated with the gain of an electron by an atom in the gaseous state. Which of these elements will release the most energy when gaining an electron? Helium, He Sodium, Na Chlorine, Cl Carbon, C
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Electron affinity is defined as the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gaseous state to form a negative ion. A more negative (or more exothermic) electron affinity value means that more energy is released when an electron Show more…
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5. What is electron affinity? 6. In the table above, does the negative sign for the energy value correlate to absorption or release of energy? 7. Compare the ionization energy of sodium (Na) to the ionization energy of chlorine (Cl). Which one loses an electron more easily? 8. Compare the electron affinity of sodium (Na) to the electron affinity of chlorine (Cl). Which one gains an electron more easily? 9. Fill-in the most likely charges for ions formed from main group elements, and state how the charges correlate to ionization energy and/or electron affinity. Group IA IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA VIIIA Charge
Madhur L.
Electron affinity is a property specif ying the "appetite" of an element for gaining electrons. Elements, such as fluorine and oxygen, that lack only one or two electrons to complete shells can achieve a lower energy state by absorbing an external electron. For instance, in uniting an electron with a neutral chlorine atom. completing its $n=3$ shell and forming a $\mathrm{Cl}^{-}$ ion, $3.61 \mathrm{eV}$ of energy is liberated. Suppose an electron is detached from a sodium atom, whose ionization energy is $5.14 \mathrm{eV}$, then transferred to a (faraway) chlorine atom. (a) Must energy on balance be put in by an external agent, or is some energy actually liberated? If so.how much" (b) The transfer leaves the sodium with a positive charge and the chlorine with a negative. Energy can now be extracted by allowing these ions to draw close, forming a molecule. How close must they approach to rccmer the energy crpended in part (a)? (c) The actual seperstion of the atoms in a NaCI molecule is $0.24 \mathrm{nm}$. How much lower in energy is the molecule than the icparated neutral atums?
Specify which of the following elements you would expect to have the greatest electron affinity and which would have the least: $\mathrm{He}, \mathrm{K}, \mathrm{Co}, \mathrm{S}, \mathrm{Cl}$.
Jennifer H.
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