Definition of electron affinity
Electron affinity can be termed as the energy released to ad an electron with an atom.
Explanation of Electron affinity
Electron affinity is the opposite term of ionisation energy. Where ionisation energy
or ionisation potential means the requirement of energy to release electron from nutral atom or ion there electron affinity means the release of energy to ad an electron with atom or ion. Let a positive ion or a neutral atom are going to convert into a negatively charged ion by addition of an electron from outside. To do this there need some electron to release. This released electron is called electron affinity. Electron affinity may be classified into different class. First electron affinity and second electron affinity, etc. First electron affinity is the energy releasing for adding first electron with atom in gaseous state. On the other hand the released energy to adding the second electron with atom is called second electron affinity.
Examples of electron affinity
Chlorine is an element of halogen group and chlorine is considered as nutral atom with zero charge to which an electron will add.
An electron added with neutral chlorine and chlorine converted into chloride ion. In course of converting some energy will release. This energy is termed as electron affinity.
