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Q.What is the basic difference between the terms 'electron gain enthalpy' and 'electronegativity'?

Haryana BsehBoard of School Education Haryana (Senior Secondary Part-I / Class 11) 2025Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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Electron gain enthalpy applies to a free, isolated atom gaining an electron and is measured in energy units; electronegativity applies to an atom already bonded in a molecule and is a comparative number without a true unit.

Electron Gain Enthalpy (ΔegH\Delta_{eg}H): This is the enthalpy change that occurs when an isolated, gaseous atom in its ground state gains an extra electron to form a gaseous anion:

X(g)+e−→X−(g)ΔegHX(g) + e^- \rightarrow X^-(g) \qquad \Delta_{eg}H

It is a definite, experimentally measurable quantity, expressed in energy units (kJ/mol). It refers strictly to a single, free (unbonded) atom.

Electronegativity: This is the tendency (a relative measure, not an absolute quantity) of an atom already present in a covalently bonded molecule to attract the shared pair of bonding electrons towards itself. It has no fixed experimental unit; it is expressed on relative numerical scales (e.g., the Pauling scale), obtained by comparison between elements rather than direct measurement of a single atom.

Key difference summary: …

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