electron affinity

American  

noun

Physics, Chemistry.

1. the quantitative measure, usually given in electron-volts, of the tendency of an atom or molecule to capture an electron and to form a negative ion.

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electron affinity British  

noun

1.  A.  a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to form a negative ion, expressed as the energy released when an electron is attached

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Example Sentences

The electron affinity of an element is a measurable physical quantity, namely, the energy released or absorbed when an isolated gas-phase atom acquires an electron, measured in kJ/mol.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Therefore, electron affinity becomes increasingly negative as we move left to right across the periodic table and decreases as we move down a group.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

For both IE and electron affinity data, there are exceptions to the trends when dealing with completely filled or half-filled subshells.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The electron affinity of the acceptor that makes up the depleted heterojunction has also been systematically varied.

From Nature • Aug. 15, 2012