StreakPeaked· Practice

ExamsJEE AdvancedChemistry

Among the following species, which one has the greatest tendency to gain an electron (i.e., highest electron affinity/electron gain enthalpy)?

  1. H+
  2. He+
  3. Na+
  4. Cl-

Correct answer: H+

Solution

H+ is a bare proton. Adding one electron to it forms a neutral hydrogen atom with a large effective nuclear charge (Z_eff = 1, no shielding). This releases a large amount of energy. He+, Na+, and Cl- all have electrons already shielding the nucleus to varying degrees, making them less effective at attracting an additional electron compared to the bare proton.

Related JEE Advanced Chemistry questions

⚔️ Practice JEE Advanced Chemistry free + battle 1v1 →