Question

Fluorine is more electronegative than Chlorine , but electron gain enthalpy of Chlorine is more than Fluorine . EXPLAIN

Answer 1

Dear student, Though Flourine is most electronegative in nature but it has a smaller size as well. Chlorine has relatively a large size. When electron is added to these atoms, the electron faces much repulsion from electron already present in these atoms. Due to small size of Flourine this repulsion is very high and hence electron gain enthalpy less negative than Chlorine. Regards.