Question

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Halogens have high

Answer 1

Electron affinity:

1. The amount of energy released while converting a neutral gaseous isolated atom into a negatively charged gaseous ion/anion by the addition of an electron is called electron affinity (E.A.).
2. On moving from left to right in a period of the periodic table, the atomic size decreases, and the nuclear charge increases. Thus, the electron affinity increases.
3. On moving down the group in the periodic table, the atomic size increases, and the nuclear charge decreases. Thus, the electron affinity decreases.

Electron affinities of Halogens:

1. As all the halogen atoms lack only 1 electron in their valence shell to achieve the stable completely filled electronic configuration, thus they readily accept the additional electron to achieve that stable configuration.
2. When the stability of an atom is achieved and forms an anion then the energy released is known as electron affinity.
3. Halogens are said to have the highest electron affinities as they are just short of 1 electron to achieve the stable configuration and thus readily accept that electron.

Hence, Halogens have high Electron Affinity.