

To use electron affinities properly, it is essential to keep track of the sign. Together they may undergo charge-transfer reactions. A molecule or atom that has a more positive electron affinity value is often called an electron acceptor one with a less positive electron affinity is called an electron donor. Mulliken used a list of electron affinities to develop an electronegativity scale for atoms by finding the average of the electron affinity and ionization potential.
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X(g) + e^- \rightarrow X^(g)Įlectron affinity is measured for atoms and molecules in the gaseous state only, since in the solid or liquid states their energy levels would be changed by contact with other atoms or molecules. The electron affinity (E ea) of a neutral atom or molecule is defined as the amount of energy released when an electron is added to it to form a negative ion, as demonstrated by the following equation:
