Effective Nuclear Charge Calculator

What is Effective Nuclear Charge?

Effective Nuclear Charge (Zeff) is defined as the net positive charge experienced by the valence electrons of an atom. It is the actual charge felt by an electron in an atom after accounting for the shielding effect caused by the inner electrons. The effective nuclear charge is important in understanding the strength of the attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons, which affects properties like atomic size, ionization energy, and electron affinity.