ELECTRON AFFINITY Meaning and
Definition
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Electron affinity refers to the fundamental property of an atom or molecule that quantifies its ability to accept or attract an additional electron. It is defined as the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom in its gaseous state, forming a negative ion. In simpler terms, electron affinity measures the ease with which an atom or molecule gains an electron.
This property is primarily associated with non-metallic elements that readily form negatively charged ions by accepting electrons. It varies among different elements due to variations in their atomic structures. Electron affinity increases across a period in the periodic table, but decreases down a group. This trend is mainly influenced by the element's effective nuclear charge and atomic radius.
Electron affinity can be regarded as a measure of an atom's or molecule's desire to achieve a stable electron configuration, typically a full valence shell. A higher electron affinity value indicates a strong attraction for electrons, signifying that energy is released when the extra electron is added.
The measured electron affinity values are usually expressed in terms of energy units, such as kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) or electron volts (eV). Negative values indicate exothermic processes where energy is released upon electron gain, while positive values imply endothermic processes where energy must be supplied to add an electron.
Electron affinity plays a crucial role in various chemical processes, such as reactions involving oxidants, the formation of ionic compounds, and the determination of an element's chemical reactivity. By understanding the electron affinity of different elements, scientists can predict their behavior in chemical reactions and their propensity to form ions.
Common Misspellings for ELECTRON AFFINITY
- wlectron affinity
- slectron affinity
- dlectron affinity
- rlectron affinity
- 4lectron affinity
- 3lectron affinity
- ekectron affinity
- epectron affinity
- eoectron affinity
- elwctron affinity
- elsctron affinity
- eldctron affinity
- elrctron affinity
- el4ctron affinity
- el3ctron affinity
- elextron affinity
- elevtron affinity
- eleftron affinity
- eledtron affinity
- elecrron affinity
Etymology of ELECTRON AFFINITY
The word "electron" is derived from the Greek word "ēlektron", meaning "amber". This is because in ancient times, it was discovered that when amber was rubbed with fur, it attracted small objects like feathers. The word "affinity" is derived from the Latin word "affinitas", meaning "relationship by marriage". In the context of electron affinity, "affinity" refers to the energy change that occurs when an atom gains an electron to form a negative ion. The term "electron affinity" was coined in the early 20th century to describe this phenomenon.
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