The likelihood of a neutral atom gaining an electron is known as:

Key Points

• Electron affinity is defined as the amount of energy released when a neutral atom in the gaseous phase gains an electron to form a negative ion.
• This property is an indication of the ability of an atom to accept an electron.
• Higher electron affinity values indicate a greater tendency to gain an electron.
• Electron affinity generally increases across a period and decreases down a group in the periodic table.

Additional Information

• Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.
• Electro positivity is the ability of an element to donate electrons and form positive ions.
• Electron affinity is different from electronegativity, which is a measure of the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.
• Elements with high electron affinities tend to be non-metals, as they are more likely to gain electrons.