2.3.2: Electron Affinity

• Electron affinity can be defined as the energy required when an electron is removed from a gaseous anion. Under this definition, the more positive EA value, the higher an atom's affinity for electrons.
• Electron affinity is the energy released when an electron is added to a gaseous atom. Under this definition, the more negative EA value, the higher an atom's affinity for electrons.
• Electron affinity generally increases across a row of the periodic table.
• Electron affinity does not consistently decrease going down a column of the periodic table.