Chlorine is much more apt to exist as an anion than is sodium. This is because __________.
A)chlorine is bigger than sodium
B)chlorine has a greater ionization energy than sodium does
C)chlorine has a greater electron affinity than sodium does
D)chlorine is a gas and sodium is a solid
E)chlorine is more metallic than sodium

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chlorine has a higher electron affinity compared to sodium, meaning it is more likely to gain an extra electron and exist as an anion. Sodium, on the other hand, has a lower electron affinity and tends to lose an electron to become a cation.

Chlorine Is Much More Apt to Exist as an Anion