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Question
Electron affinity is the ______.
Options
Power of an atom to attract an electron to itself.
Energy released when an electron is added to an isolated atom in the gaseous state.
Energy absorbed when an electron is added to an isolated atom in the gaseous state.
Energy required to remove an electron from an isolated gaseous atom.
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Solution
Electron affinity is the energy released when an electron is added to an isolated atom in the gaseous state.
Explanation:
Electron affinity s a measure of a neutral gaseous atom’s likelihood to gain an electron and form a negative ion (anion). Because a stable nucleus naturally exerts an attractive force on an incoming electron, the binding process typically lowers the potential energy of the atom. This shift makes the initial electron addition an exothermic process, resulting in energy being released into the surroundings.
