Question

The halogen will have the highest electron affinity, while the noble gas will have the lowest electron affinity.

• A. true
• B. false

Answer 1

Electron affinity reflects the ability of an atom to accept an electron. Group VIIA elements, the halogens, have highest electron affinities because the addition of an electron to an atom results in a completely filled shell. Group VIII elements, noble gases, have electron affinities near zero, since each atom possesses a stable octet and will not accept an electron readily.