Which of the following elements has the greatest electron affinity among the halogens?
Which of the following elements has the greatest electron affinity among the halogens?
The correct option is B Cl
As fluorine sits a top chlorine in the periodic table, most people expect it to have the highest electron affinity, but this is not the case. Fluorine is a small atom with a small amount of space available in its 2p orbital.
Because of this, any new electron trying to attach to fluorine experiences lower electron affinity from the electrons already living in the element's 2p orbital.
Since chlorine's outermost orbital is a 3p orbital, there is more space, and the elelectrons in this orbital are inclined to share this space with an extra electron.
Therefore, chlorine has the greatest electron affinity than fluorine, and this orbital structure causes it to have the highest electron affinity of all of the elements.
As fluorine sits a top chlorine in the periodic table, most people expect it to have the highest electron affinity, but this is not the case. Fluorine is a small atom with a small amount of space available in its 2p orbital.
Because of this, any new electron trying to attach to fluorine experiences lower electron affinity from the electrons already living in the element's 2p orbital.
Since chlorine's outermost orbital is a 3p orbital, there is more space, and the elelectrons in this orbital are inclined to share this space with an extra electron.
Therefore, chlorine has the greatest electron affinity than fluorine, and this orbital structure causes it to have the highest electron affinity of all of the elements.
