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

What is Electron Gain Enthalpy?

Imagine an atom is like a little magnet. Sometimes, it wants to pull in a tiny particle called an electron. When an atom gets a new electron, it can feel happy or unhappy depending on what kind of atom it is.

If the atom feels happy when it gets the electron, it gives off some energy, just like how we smile when we get a gift. This energy is called the electron gain enthalpy. So, electron gain enthalpy is about how much energy an atom gives out (or takes in) when it gains an electron.

Some atoms love getting electrons, and some don’t. That’s why electron gain enthalpy is different for each kind of atom.

What is Electronegativity?

Now, think about two atoms holding hands and sharing toys (these toys are electrons!). Sometimes, one atom tries to pull the toy closer to itself. That pulling power is called electronegativity.

Electronegativity tells us how much an atom wants to attract electrons when it’s sharing them with another atom. Some atoms are really good at pulling the electrons, while others are not so good at it.

What’s the difference?

Here’s a simple way to remember:

• Electron gain enthalpy is about what happens when an atom gets an electron all by itself.
• Electronegativity is about how strongly an atom pulls electrons when it’s sharing them with a friend (another atom).

Both are about electrons, but one is about getting and the other is about pulling.

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