Atoms of which element,indicated by letter on the periodic table,would be expected to have the most negative value of E_ea?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

E_ea, or electron affinity, is the energy change that occurs when an atom gains an electron. The more negative the value, the more exothermic the process and the more favorable it is for the atom to gain an electron. Among the given elements, Group 17 elements (halogens) have the highest electron affinity values since they have a strong desire to gain an extra electron to complete their octet electron configuration. Element C is a halogen (fluorine), thus its atoms would have the most negative value of E_ea.

Atoms of Which Element,indicated by Letter on the Periodic Table,would