Electron affinity of chlorine is larger than that of fluorine because of:

Options

A. higher atomic radius of fluorine
B. weaker inter-electronic repulsion in chlorine
C. more vacant p–subshell in chlorine
D. smaller electronegativity of chlorine

Answer

To understand why the electron affinity of chlorine is larger than that of fluorine, we can break down the explanation into several steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Electron Affinity**:
- Electron affinity refers to the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom. A higher electron affinity means that the atom more readily accepts an electron.

2. **Group 17 Elements**:
- Chlorine (Cl) and fluorine (F) are both in Group 17 of the periodic table, also known as the halogens. They have similar electronic configurations but differ in size and electronegativity.

3. **Atomic Size**:
- As we move down the group from fluorine to chlorine, the atomic size increases. Fluorine has a smaller atomic radius compared to chlorine because it has fewer electron shells (2 shells for F vs. 3 shells for Cl).

4. **Electronegativity**:
- Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons. Fluorine is the most electronegative element, which means it has a strong attraction for electrons. Chlorine, while still electronegative, has a lower electronegativity than fluorine.

5. **Effect of Size and Electronegativity on Electron Affinity**:
- The larger size of chlorine means that when it gains an electron, the added electron experiences less repulsion from the nucleus compared to fluorine. In contrast, the small size of fluorine, combined with its high electronegativity, means that it holds onto its electrons more tightly and is less willing to accept an additional electron.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the electron affinity of chlorine is larger than that of fluorine because chlorine's larger atomic size and lower electronegativity allow it to accept an electron more readily than fluorine.

### Final Answer:
The electron affinity of chlorine is larger than that of fluorine because chlorine has a larger atomic size and lower electronegativity, which allows it to accept an electron more readily.

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