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Related Concept Videos

Electron Affinity03:07

Electron Affinity

The electron affinity (EA) is the energy change for adding an electron to a gaseous atom to form an anion (negative ion).
Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms03:26

Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms

The alkali metal sodium (atomic number 11) has one more electron than the neon atom. This electron must go into the lowest-energy subshell available, the 3s orbital, giving a 1s22s22p63s1 configuration. The electrons occupying the outermost shell orbital(s) (highest value of n) are called valence electrons, and those occupying the inner shell orbitals are called core electrons. Since the core electron shells correspond to noble gas electron configurations, we can abbreviate electron...
The Energies of Atomic Orbitals03:21

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In an atom, the negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus. In a multielectron atom, electron-electron repulsions are also observed. The attractive and repulsive forces are dependent on the distance between the particles, as well as the sign and magnitude of the charges on the individual particles. When the charges on the particles are opposite, they attract each other. If both particles have the same charge, they repel each other.
Electron Configurations02:46

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Electron configurations and orbital diagrams can be determined by applying the Aufbau principle (each added electron occupies the subshell of lowest energy available), Pauli exclusion principle (no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers), and Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity (whenever possible, electrons retain unpaired spins in degenerate orbitals).
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Nuclear Fusion02:45

Nuclear Fusion

The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
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Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy01:29

Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS) is an analytical technique that involves the electronic transitions of atoms in a flame, furnace, or plasma being excited by electromagnetic (EM) radiation. When these atoms absorb energy, they become excited and subsequently release energy as they return to their original state. This emitted light, or "fluorescence," is observed at a right angle to the incident beam. Both absorption and emission processes transpire at distinct wavelengths, which are...

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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

U2O5 Film Preparation via UO2 Deposition by Direct Current Sputtering and Successive Oxidation and Reduction with Atomic Oxygen and Atomic Hydrogen
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Electron Affinity of UF6.

Burak A Tufekci1, Shiying Wang1, Lan Cheng1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|July 1, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Researchers measured the electron affinity of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) using spectroscopy. This study provides the first direct, experimental value for UF6 electron affinity, crucial for uranium enrichment processes.

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Published on: December 14, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics
  • Spectroscopy

Background:

  • Uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is central to uranium isotopic enrichment.
  • Understanding UF6's electronic properties is vital for process optimization and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally determine the electron affinity of neutral uranium hexafluoride (UF6).
  • To characterize the electronic structure of the uranium hexafluoride anion (UF6-) using photoelectron spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

  • Anion photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to study the photodetachment of UF6-.
  • High-level relativistic coupled-cluster calculations were used for theoretical support.

Main Results:

  • The adiabatic electron affinity (AEA) of UF6 was determined to be 5.05 ± 0.10 eV.
  • The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of UF6- was measured as 5.66 ± 0.10 eV.
  • Observed spectral features were unequivocally assigned, supported by theoretical predictions.

Conclusions:

  • This study presents the first direct, spectroscopic measurement of UF6's electron affinity.
  • The findings validate theoretical calculations and enhance understanding of UF6 and UF6-.