ELECTRONEGATIVITY VS ELECTRON AFFINITY VS REDOX

POTENTIAL
While electronegativity is the ability of an atom to gain an electron, electron affinity is the
energy change that occurs when an electron is gained.

Electronegativity is not really that different from Electron Affinity. It’s just that Electron
affinity is a fixed value of an individual atom, while Electronegativity is much more often
associated with molecules rather than each atom and the values could vary to some degree,
although a single value is commonly used for most calculations in inorganic chemistry.

Summary:
1. Electronegativity is a numerical value associated with an atoms ability to form a covalent
bond
2. Electron affinity is the amount of energy that is released when an electron attaches to
the atom
3. Electron affinity is a fixed and measurable value
4. Electronegativity cannot be measured and needs to be computed from other atomic
properties by a few differing equations depending on which scientist you adhere to
5. Electronegativity values vary with different chemical environments
6. Electron Affinity is a value associated with individual atoms while Electron Negativity is the
derived value of a molecule

That's the most important part of the picture. When it comes to simple redox reactions (like
Na -> Na+ + e- or F2 + 2e- -> 2F) electronegativity is somehow correlated with redox potential.
However, when it comes to more complex reactions, or when it comes to reactions that don't
deal with the pure element (like Fe2+ -> Fe3+ + e- - no Fe(0) present) it is best to forget about
electronegativity and electron affinity and to treat both things completely separately

the redox potential is not just for elements, but also for compounds. Electronegativity is just
for elements in natural state. So there the comparison ends

Extremes in Electronegativity causes increased reactivity.