What is electron affinity?

What is electron affinity?

• A. The energy required to remove an electron from an atom
• B. The resistance of a material to electrons
• C. A measure of how strongly a material can pull an electron towards it
• D. The ability of a material to conduct electricity

Answer: (C)

Electron affinity describes how strongly an atom is drawn to gain an extra electron. It is the energy change when a neutral atom in the gaseous state gains one electron to form a negative ion. In simple terms, it measures the tendency of an atom to accept an electron. If energy is released when the atom gains that electron, the affinity is positive; if energy must be supplied, it’s negative. This idea matches the description of “how strongly a material can pull an electron toward it,” which is why that option best captures electron affinity. The other ideas point to removing electrons (ionization energy), resisting the flow of electrons (resistance), or conducting electricity (conductivity), none of which describe gaining an electron.

Electron affinity describes how strongly an atom is drawn to gain an extra electron. It is the energy change when a neutral atom in the gaseous state gains one electron to form a negative ion. In simple terms, it measures the tendency of an atom to accept an electron. If energy is released when the atom gains that electron, the affinity is positive; if energy must be supplied, it’s negative. This idea matches the description of “how strongly a material can pull an electron toward it,” which is why that option best captures electron affinity. The other ideas point to removing electrons (ionization energy), resisting the flow of electrons (resistance), or conducting electricity (conductivity), none of which describe gaining an electron.