Why is electron affinity of chlorine greater than that of fluorine? (because electron affinity is generally supposed to decrease down the group, isn't it? ) I tried googling it, but I still didn't understand. :P

Question

rogue · Answer

Did you read the reason about electron densities of the elements?

anonymous · Answer

Nope :/

rogue · Answer

The reason fluorine has a lower electron affinity than chlorine is because it is an extremely small atom and so its electron density is very high. Because of such a high electron density, adding another electron to it will make the atom unstable because of the strong repulsion between the electrons in such a tight space.

anonymous · Answer

Oh.