Difference Between Electronegativity And Electron Affinity : As chemistry students preparing for NEET, we often come across closely related terms but distinct in their meaning. Two such terms are electronegativity and electron affinity. While they both deal with the behavior of electrons in chemical reactions, they have different implications and applications.
In this blog post, we will explore the concepts of electronegativity and electron affinity, exploring their definitions, differences, and real-life examples. So let's begin to cover this important topic of the NEET syllabus .Difference Between Electronegativity And Electron Affinity | ||
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Property | Electronegativity | Electron Affinity |
Definition | Measure of an atom's tendency to attract and bond with electrons in a chemical bond | The energy change associated with gaining an electron by a neutral atom in its gaseous state |
Units | Dimensionless values, Pauling scale is commonly used | kJ/mol or eV (electron volts) |
Direction in Periodic Table | Increases from left to right and decreases from top to bottom | Generally increases from left to right and decreases from top to bottom, with some exceptions |
Chemical Bonding | Indicates the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a covalent bond | Relates to the atom's tendency to gain an electron in the formation of ionic bonds |
Trend | Follows the periodic trend, noble gases have the lowest values | Also follows periodic trend, but exceptions exist based on atomic structure |
Influence on Molecules | Influences the polarity of covalent bonds and the overall polarity of molecules | Reflects an atom's tendency to accept an electron, impacting ion formation and stability |
Examples | Fluorine (highest electronegativity), Cesium (lowest electronegativity) | Chlorine (high electron affinity), Noble gases (low electron affinity) |