The electron affinity (EA) of element 114 is calculated by the mixed sector intermediate Hamiltonian coupled cluster method, using large basis sets and model spaces. Similar calculations reproduce the EA of the lighter homologues Sn and Pb within 5%. This good agreement lends credence to the result obtained for element 114, predicting that the superheavy element will have no electron affinity and will not bind an extra electron. Trends in group 14 and the relativistic destabilization of the E114 7p(3/2) orbital support this conclusion. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.