Textbook Question
Little is known about the chemistry of astatine (At) from direct observation, but reasonable predictions can be made.
(a) Is astatine likely to be a gas, a liquid, or a solid?
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23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals
Main Group Elements: Periodic Trends
Multiple Choice
Which of the following elements will have the lowest electron affinity?
A
Cl
B
K
C
P
D
Be
E
O
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of electron affinity: Electron affinity is the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gaseous state to form a negative ion. Generally, elements with higher electron affinity release more energy when gaining an electron.
Consider the periodic trend: Electron affinity generally increases across a period from left to right and decreases down a group in the periodic table. This is because atoms become more effective at attracting additional electrons as you move across a period.
Analyze the given elements: Chlorine (Cl), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O) are nonmetals, which typically have higher electron affinities. Beryllium (Be) and Potassium (K) are metals, which usually have lower electron affinities.
Compare the positions in the periodic table: Chlorine, Phosphorus, and Oxygen are in the same period, with Chlorine having the highest electron affinity among them. Beryllium is in the second period, and Potassium is in the fourth period, which is further down the group.
Determine the element with the lowest electron affinity: Potassium (K), being a metal and located further down the group, will have the lowest electron affinity compared to the other elements listed.
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