Answer to Question #43346 in Inorganic Chemistry for manoj

Question

what is the difference between electron gain enthalpy and electron affinity?

Answer 1

Electron gain enthalpy has the same value as the electron affinity, yet it has the opposite sign. Both values show the energy required to add one electron to neutral atom creating negative ion. If electron electronic affinity is positive, the electron gain enthalpy is negative. Negative value of the electron gain enthalpy means that neutral atom has a positive tendency to accept an electron. Contrary, positive value of the electron gain enthalpy means that neutral atom has negative tendency to accept an electron.