Electron attachment enthalpy

ID: electron-attachment-enthalpy

An electron attachment enthalpy is the signed molar enthalpy change for a stated attachment reaction,
For favourable attachment such as chlorine's first attachment, the electron attachment enthalpy is negative. Its leading isolated-ground-state energy contribution is , where is the Avogadro constant. At finite temperature, consistent thermal populations, translational contributions and the term in enthalpy must also be included, together with the same gaseous-Electron reference used in the corresponding ionization energy term. Consequently a measured spectroscopic electron affinity is not automatically an exact attachment enthalpy with a minus sign. A Born-Haber cycle must use compatible enthalpies throughout.

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