What is the tendency of an atom to pull electrons toward itself referred to as?

1 Answer
Mar 11, 2017

You speak of the #"electron affinity"#, the enthalpy change when 1 mole of gaseous atoms combine with mole of electrons, to form one mole of gaseous anions..........

Explanation:

The #"electron affinity"# refers to the enthalpy change of the following reaction:

#"Atom(g)" + e^(-) rarr "Anion(g)"+Delta#

wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Electron_affinity_of_the_elementssvg

Discounting the Noble Gases, electron affinity INCREASES across the Period from left to right as we face the Table. Why should this be so?