Which of the following elements has the maximum electron affinity ?

Options

A. F
B. S
C. O
D. Cl

Explanation

To determine which of the given elements has the maximum electron affinity, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Electron Affinity
Electron affinity is defined as the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom to form a negative ion. The more negative the electron affinity value, the greater the tendency of the atom to accept an electron.

### Step 2: Identify the Given Elements
The elements provided in the question are:
1. Fluorine (F)
2. Sulfur (S)
3. Oxygen (O)
4. Chlorine (Cl)

### Step 3: Compare the Electron Affinities
Generally, the elements in the same group of the periodic table show trends in electron affinity. For halogens (Group 17), the trend is that electron affinity increases as you move up the group.

- **Fluorine (F)**: Has a very high electron affinity due to its small atomic size and high electronegativity.
- **Chlorine (Cl)**: Also has a high electron affinity, but it is larger than fluorine, which can affect the electron repulsion when an electron is added.
- **Oxygen (O)** and **Sulfur (S)**: These elements have lower electron affinities compared to fluorine and chlorine.

### Step 4: Analyze the Comparison Between Fluorine and Chlorine
While fluorine has a high electron affinity, it is important to note that due to its smaller size, the repulsion between the added electron and the existing electrons in the outer shell can be significant. Chlorine, being larger, experiences less electron-electron repulsion when an electron is added, which allows it to have a more favorable electron affinity.

### Step 5: Conclusion
After analyzing the trends and the specific properties of the elements, we conclude that chlorine has a higher electron affinity than fluorine, despite fluorine being more electronegative. Therefore, among the given options, **Chlorine (Cl)** has the maximum electron affinity.

### Final Answer
**Chlorine (Cl)** has the maximum electron affinity.

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