Which of the following element has the maximum electron affinity ?

Options

A. nitrogen
B. oxygen
C. fluorine
D. chlorine

Explanation

To determine which of the following elements has the maximum electron affinity among nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and chlorine, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Electron Affinity
Electron affinity is the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gas phase. Generally, elements with higher electronegativity tend to have higher electron affinity.

**Hint:** Remember that electron affinity is related to how readily an atom can accept an electron.

### Step 2: Identify the Group of Elements
The elements given are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F), and chlorine (Cl). Among these, fluorine and chlorine are halogens, which typically have high electron affinities.

**Hint:** Focus on the group of elements; halogens usually have higher electron affinities than non-metals.

### Step 3: Compare Electron Affinities
- **Fluorine (F)**: It is known to have a high electron affinity due to its high electronegativity and small atomic size.
- **Chlorine (Cl)**: Although chlorine is larger than fluorine, it has a higher electron affinity than fluorine because the energy released when gaining an electron is greater due to less electron-electron repulsion in its outer shell.

**Hint:** Consider the atomic size and the stability of the resulting anion when an atom gains an electron.

### Step 4: Analyze the Other Elements
- **Nitrogen (N)**: Has a lower electron affinity compared to both fluorine and chlorine.
- **Oxygen (O)**: Also has a lower electron affinity than chlorine and fluorine.

**Hint:** Compare the electron affinities of nitrogen and oxygen with those of the halogens.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Based on the comparison, chlorine has the highest electron affinity among the given options, even higher than fluorine, due to its larger size which allows for a more stable anion formation.

**Final Answer:** Chlorine (Cl) has the maximum electron affinity among the given elements.