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
Symbol: A
electron affinity in American English
noun
Physics & Chemistry
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
Examples of 'electron affinity' in a sentence
electron affinity
The electron affinities (vertical electron affinity and adiabatic electron affinity) were discussed to study their electron capture abilities.
Lingyun Li, Jiwei Hu, Xuedan Shi, Wenqian Ruan, Jin Luo, Xionghui Wei 2016, 'Theoretical Studies on Structures, Properties and Dominant Debromination Pathwaysfor Selected Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers', International Journal of Molecular Scienceshttp://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/6/927. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Dipole moment of the molecule, ionization energy and electron affinity are established.
Karuna S., Balu A.R., Muthu S., Shyamala D., Delci Z., Ramkumaar G.R 2018, 'Structural, optical, thermal and NLO behavior of zinc hydrogen maleate dihydrate singlecrystal', Materials Science-Polandhttp://www.degruyter.com/view/j/msp.2017.35.issue-4/msp-2017-0095/msp-2017-0095.xml?format=INT. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The photocathodes are prepared by activation of the clean semiconductor surface to negative electron affinity using cesium and oxidation.
C. K. Sinclair, P. A. Adderley, B. M. Dunham, J. C. Hansknecht, P. Hartmann, M. Poelker,J. S. Price, P. M. Rutt, W. J. Schneider, M. Steigerwald 2007, 'Development of a high average current polarized electron source with long cathodeoperational lifetime', Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beamshttp://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.10.023501. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The well-known theoretical reactivity indices (ionization potential, electron affinity and global softness) were calculated for the adsorbents analyzed.
M. Wiśniewski, P.A. Gauden 2006, 'Pearson's Hard-Soft Acid-Base Principle as a Means of Interpreting the Reactivityof Carbon Materials', Adsorption Science & Technologyhttps://doi.org/10.1260/026361706779849744. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)