Definition: The first electron affinity is the energy change accompanying the addition of an electron to a neutral atom in its gaseous state to form a negative ion., Definition: Electron affinity measures the energy change when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gas phase, forming an anion (a negatively charged ion). This process can either release energy or require energy, depending on the element involved., Hint: The energy release in the process of adding an electron to a neutral gaseous isolated atom and forming a negatively charged ion is called electron affinity., electron affinity is quantitative measurement of the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral gas atom. The larger the atom the lower the ionization energy. Easier to remove because the nucleus protons have less of a hold. What methods can you use to figure out which specie has the higher ionization energy? 1., Electron affinity is the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a gaseous atom. The more negative (exothermic) the value, the greater the affinity., .