Factors Affecting Electron Affinity
Various factors that affect the Electron affinity are as follows:
- Atomic Size: Smaller atoms have a higher electron affinity due to the stronger attraction between the incoming electron and the nucleus. This results in a more significant release of energy when an electron is added to the atom.
- Nuclear Charge: The greater the nuclear charge, the stronger the attraction between the nucleus and the incoming electron, leading to a higher electron affinity.
- Screening Effect: The screening effect, also known as shielding, occurs when inner electrons repel the outer electrons from the full force of the nuclear charge. A higher screening effect reduces the effective nuclear charge experienced by the outermost electrons, leading to a lower electron affinity.
- Reactivity of Non-metals: Non-metals with higher electron affinities tend to be more reactive.
- Oxidizing Power of the Element: The electron affinity is related to the oxidizing power of an element. Elements with higher electron affinities are more likely to gain electrons and act as oxidizing agents in chemical reactions.
Electron Affinity
Electron Affinity is a measure of the attraction between an incoming electron and the nucleus of an atom or molecule. It is defined as the change in energy (in kJ/mole) of a neutral atom (in the gaseous phase) when an electron is added to the atom.
In this article, we will look into what electron affinity is, its periodic trends, the factors affecting electron affinity, and the values of electron affinity of different elements.
Table of Content
- What is Electron Affinity?
- Trends in Electron Affinity
- Types of Electron Affinity
- Factors Affecting Electron Affinity
- Electron Affinity Vs Ionization Energy