The electron affinities ( ) of fluorine and chlorine are given below
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Atomic Structure and Properties · Atomic Structure and Properties
Problem
The electron affinities (EA) of fluorine and chlorine are given below.
Element
EA (kJ mol−1)
F
−328
Cl
−349
Although fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine, its EA is less exothermic.
(1) Part 1: Describe the general trend one would predict for EA values moving down Group 17 and state how the data for F and Cl deviate from that trend.
(2) Part 2: Offer two distinct, well-supported reasons that account for the less exothermic EA of fluorine compared with chlorine.