Atom with the largest electron affinity is

Options

A. `Na`
B. `CI`
C. `I`
D. `P`

Answer

To determine the atom with the largest electron affinity, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Electron Affinity
Electron affinity refers to the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gas phase. Atoms with high electron affinity tend to gain electrons more readily.

### Step 2: Analyze the Periodic Trends
Electron affinity generally increases across a period (from left to right) and decreases down a group (from top to bottom) in the periodic table. This is because as you move across a period, the atomic size decreases, and the effective nuclear charge increases, making it easier for the atom to attract and hold onto an additional electron.

### Step 3: Identify Relevant Elements
From the question, we consider the elements mentioned in the video: sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), iodine (I), and phosphorus (P).

- Sodium (Na) is a metal and tends to lose electrons rather than gain them.
- Phosphorus (P) is a non-metal but does not have the highest electron affinity in this group.
- Chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal and is known for having a high electron affinity.
- Iodine (I) has a lower electron affinity than chlorine due to its larger atomic size.

### Step 4: Compare Electron Affinities
Among the elements considered:
- Chlorine (Cl) has the highest electron affinity compared to sodium, phosphorus, and iodine.
- As we move down the group from chlorine to iodine, the electron affinity decreases due to the increase in atomic size.

### Conclusion
The atom with the largest electron affinity is **Chlorine (Cl)**.

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