Why does an atom have positive electron affinity?

The electron affinity is defined as the energy change that occurs when an atom gains an electron, releasing energy in the process. If a reaction is exothermic, the change in energy is negative. This means that the electron affinity is positive.

Is electron affinity is always positive?

While first electron affinities can be negative, positive, or zero, second electron affinities are always positive.

Why the second electron affinity are always positive?

During the first time, on gaining of an electron, energy is released. But, by the second time, when an electron is added, it experiences a repulsive force by the previously added electron . So, energy is applied, so as to overcome the repulsive force. Hence, the value of second electron affinity is always positive.

What atoms have a positive electron affinity?

Generally, nonmetals have more positive Eea than metals. Atoms whose anions are more stable than neutral atoms have a greater Eea. Chlorine most strongly attracts extra electrons; neon most weakly attracts an extra electron.

Which electron affinity is most negative?

The trend for electron affinity is as follows: it increases from left to right and decreases down a period in the periodic table. This means Cl has the most negative electron affinity.

What does a more negative electron affinity mean?

Electron Affinity is the energy associated with the addition of an electon to a gaseous atom. A more negative electron affinity corresponds to a greater attraction for an electron. (An unbound electron has an energy of zero.)

Why second electron affinity is positive but first electron affinity is negative?

First electron affinity of oxygen is negative but second electron affinity is positive-explain. So, electron affinity of oxygen is an exothermic process and its value is negative when an extra electron is added to O- ion, that second electron experiences a force of repulsion exerted by the negative charge of the anion.

Which element has the most positive electron affinity?

Chlorine
Chlorine has the highest electron affinity while mercury has the lowest. Electron affinity generally increases across a period (row) in the periodic table, due to the filling of the valence shell of the atom.

Which element has the most favorable electron affinity?

fluorine
Therefore, chlorine has a higher electron affinity than fluorine, and this orbital structure causes it to have the highest electron affinity of all of the elements.