Quick question about periodic trends

[sdb09]

Hi -

I was just wondering regarding periodic trends of electron affinity and ionization energy for the noble gases - are they 0 for the noble gases, or do they have a value? Say there was a question on which has the highest electron affinity or the highest first ionization energy - and you could select Cl or Ar...which is the right choice?

Thanks!

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[Phlame217]

Technically anything can be ionized, but the energy for noble gasses is extremely high. I doubt you would see a question like that.

 

[futuredoctor10]

I made a thread about this! I think it's on this first page somewhere. But what I have concluded: electron affinity of noble gases is (basically) zero.

Ionization energy = energy required to remove an electron. Noble gases DO have ionization energies - extremely high infact- indicating it requires A HUGE amount of energy to remove an electron from them (they are stable with their octet and consequently have no intention to let someone steal their electrons!)

Say there was a question on which has the highest electron affinity or the highest first ionization energy - and you could select Cl or Ar...which is the right choice?

Highest first ionization energy could be asked on the MCAT, and I believe the right choice would be Argon. The noble gas has the highest 1st ionization energy.

As far as highest electron affinity, that is a little tricker. Don't know if this would come on the MCAT. And honestly don't know what I would put (a quick googling says there are no conclusive measurements of electron affinities of noble gases, they are often assumed zero). So I think I would pick Chlorine.

Great question