Question

Why does chlorine have a greater electron affinity than sodium?

A) Chlorine has more protons than sodium.
B) Chlorine has a smaller atomic radius than sodium.
C) Chlorine has a higher ionization energy than sodium.
D) Chlorine has more electrons than sodium.

Answer 1

Chlorine has a greater electron affinity than sodium due to its smaller atomic radius, higher ionization energy, and more electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron affinity of an atom refers to its tendency to gain an electron. In the case of chlorine and sodium, chlorine has a greater electron affinity than sodium due to the following reasons:

1. Chlorine has a smaller atomic radius than sodium, which means that the electrons in its outer shell are closer to the nucleus and experience a stronger attractive force. This makes it easier for chlorine to attract an additional electron.
2. Chlorine has a higher ionization energy than sodium, which means that more energy is required to remove an electron from a chlorine atom compared to a sodium atom. This makes it more favorable for chlorine to gain an electron rather than lose one.
3. Chlorine has more electrons than sodium, which means that it has a stronger pull on additional electrons due to the positive charge of its nucleus. Sodium, on the other hand, has fewer electrons and a weaker pull.