Question

Arrange the elements with the following electronic
configurations in increasing order of electron affinity
(i) 1s²s² 2p⁵ (ii) 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
(iii) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶3s²3 p⁴ (iv) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶3s²3p⁵
(a) (ii)< (iii) < (i) < (iv) (b) (iii) < (ii) < (iv) < (i)
(c) (iii) < (ii) < (i) < (iv) (d) (ii) < (iii) < (iv) < (i)

Answer 1

Electron affinity will be -

(b) (iii) < (ii) < (iv) < (i)

Highest electron affinity will be for (i) option, because it is just one electron away from completing it's octet, and being quantum number 2 it is closer in comparison to option (iv).

Then, since option (iv) is one electron away from completing it's octet, it will be the next.

Further, 2p4 is closer in comparison to 3p4, hence former will have more electron affinity.

Hence the correct option is (b).

Electron affinity refers to increased interaction or absorption of electron.