Why is electron affinity an exothermic process?
just as energy( called ionization enthalpy) is recquired to remove an electron from an isolated gaseous atom so as to convert it into a positive ion,energy is released when an electron is added to an isolated gaseous atom so as to convert it into a negative ion ….this energy is called electron gain enthalpy or electron affinity… X (g) + e- ——> X- (g) evidently greater the amount of energy released in the above process higher is the electron affinity… in other words electron affinity is a measure of firmness or strength with which an electron is bound to it….. depending upon the nature of element the process of adding an electron to the atom can be exothermic or endothermic …..for majority of elements energy is released when an electron is added to the atom ….for example- addition of electron to halogens (group-17) is highly exothermic becasue after accepting one electron they acquire the nearest stable noble gas electronic configuration…and as we know stable electroni
