Although electron affinity of chlorine is higher than fluorine, yet fluorine act as better oxidizing agent than chlorine? Explain.

Oxidizing character of elements calculated in aqueous medium while electron affinity is the term related to gaseous state.

Since fluorine possesses small size and high negative charge density thus undergoes more hydration as compared to chlorine as result of which its hydration energy increases than electron affinity and thus fluorine takes electron easily in aqueous medium and act as best oxidizing agent.The another reason of high oxidizing power of fluorine is its low bond dissociation energy as compare to chlorine.

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