Questions: Which of the following elements would have a very different electron affinity value compared to the others?
A Ne
B Al
C O
D F
E Na
Transcript text: Which of the following elements would have a very different electron affinity value compared to the others?
A Ne
B Al
C O
D F
E Na
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding Electron Affinity
Electron affinity is the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gaseous state to form a negative ion. Elements with high electron affinity values release more energy when they gain an electron.
Step 2: Identifying the Elements
The elements given in the question are:
Ne (Neon)
Al (Aluminum)
O (Oxygen)
F (Fluorine)
Na (Sodium)
Step 3: Comparing Electron Affinity Values
Neon (Ne): Neon is a noble gas with a complete valence shell, making it very stable and unlikely to gain an electron. Therefore, it has a very low (or even positive) electron affinity.
Aluminum (Al): Aluminum has a moderate electron affinity as it is a metal and tends to lose electrons rather than gain them.
Oxygen (O): Oxygen has a high electron affinity because it is a non-metal and tends to gain electrons to complete its valence shell.
Fluorine (F): Fluorine has the highest electron affinity among the elements listed because it is highly electronegative and readily gains an electron to achieve a stable configuration.
Sodium (Na): Sodium, like aluminum, is a metal and has a relatively low electron affinity as it tends to lose electrons.
Step 4: Identifying the Outlier
Neon (Ne) is a noble gas and has a very different electron affinity value compared to the other elements, which are metals or non-metals with higher tendencies to gain electrons.