10 - Group 18 - Nobel Gases

The Nobel gases
Group 18: The Nobel gases
The Nobel gases

• The noble gases, also known as the inert gases or rare gases, are
located in Group VIII A of the periodic table.
• Group VIII is sometimes called Group 0.
• This group is a subset of the nonmetals.
• The noble gases are; helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton
(Kr), xenon (Xe) , radon (Rn) and Oganesson (Og).
• The elements have a [core]ns2 np6 electron configuration with a
complete octet. (n is the period number)
• Their closed shell electron configuration makes them have a very
low reactivity.
The Nobel gases

• Noble gases have a full valence shell.
• The noble gases are the smallest elements in their respective periods, with the highest ionization energies.
• Noble gases have very low melting and boiling points.
• Only Kr, Xe, and Rn are known to form compounds.
• Xe is the most reactive noble gas and exhibits all even oxidation states from +2 to +8.
• Very low electronegativities
• No color, odor, or flavor under ordinary conditions
• Nonflammable
• At low pressure, they will conduct electricity and fluoresce
The Nobel gases
• All the noble gases occur in the atmosphere as monatomic gases.
 They are monatomic, which means they exist as individual atoms. Most other gases are diatomic.
• Together they make up 1% (by mass) of the atmosphere.
• Argon is the third most abundant gas in the atmosphere after N and O.
Sources of the Noble Gases

• All of the noble gases except He and Rn are obtained by the fractional distillation of liquid air.
• The major source of helium is from the cryogenic separation of natural gas.
• Radon, a radioactive noble gas, is produced from the radioactive decay of heavier elements, including
radium, thorium, and uranium.
• Element 118 (Og) is a man-made radioactive element, produced by striking a target with accelerated
particles.
Uses of other noble gases

• The noble gases are used to form inert atmospheres, to protect specimens, and to prevent chemical
reactions (to prevent oxidation).
• Argon is also used to fill some types of light bulbs, where it conducts heat away from the filament.
• Krypton gives an intense white light when an electrical current is passed through it and it is used in
airports for there runway lights used:
• In lasers for eye surgery, to stop bleeding on the retina.
• In lighthouses and other types of lamps.
• Xenon is used:
• In various types of electron tubes, lamps, lasers and in high speed photographic flash tubes
• Radon is used:
• To treat cancer by radiotherapy, because it is radioactive.
• However, because radon is radioactive, it is also an environmental hazard.
The Atomic and Physical Properties

• Atomic mass, boiling point, and atomic radii INCREASE down a group in the periodic table.
• The first ionization energy DECREASES down a group in the periodic table.
• The noble gases have the largest ionization energies, reflecting their chemical inertness.
• Down Group 18, atomic radius and interatomic forces INCREASE resulting in
an INCREASED melting point, boiling point, energy of vaporization, and solubility.
• The INCREASE in density down the group is correlated with the INCREASE in atomic mass.
• Because noble gases’ outer shells are full, they are extremely stable, tending not to form chemical bonds
and having a small tendency to gain or lose electrons.
Selected Properties of Group 8 A Elements

Compounds of the Nobel Gases (Reactivity):

• The elements have a complete octet, predict that there would be no chemistry for the noble gases.
• However, numerous group 18 compounds are known, although they may be very unstable and explosive.
• He and Ne are chemically inert and they do not form any compounds.
 Their chemical inertness is due to very high ionization energy, zero electron affinity and the absence
of vacant d-orbitals in valence shell.
• Ar, Kr and Xe will show some reactivity
 due to low ionization potentials and presence of vacant d-orbitals in valence shell.
• Xe is more reactive than Ar and Kr
 due to it's low ionisation energy.
• Radon is radioactive and it will not show chemical reactivity.

Compounds of the Nobel Gases (Reactivity):

• Krypton forms only one known stable neutral molecule KrF2.
• Xe shows tendency to lose electrons in many of it's reactions. Therefore, Xe combines with only more
electronegative elements like F and O or electronegative groups.
• Xe does not combine with less electronegative elements like Cl2 or N2.
The Elements (Xenon)

• Xenon is unique for being the first noble gas element to be synthesized into a compound.
• Discovered on 1898 by Sir William Ramsay.
• Xenon is present to a small extent in the atmosphere (less than one ppm by volume).
• Metallic xenon is produced by applying several hundred kilobars of pressure.
• In 1962 the first noble gas compound was produced by Neil Bartlett, combining xenon, platinum and
fluorine.
• It is now possible to produce xenon compounds in which the oxidation states range from +2 to +8.
• Most of the known xenon compounds contain the strongly reducing fluorine or oxygen atoms.

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The Nobel gases

Group 18: The Nobel gases

The Nobel gases

The Nobel gases

• Noble gases have very low melting and boiling points.

• Only Kr, Xe, and Rn are known to form compounds.

Sources of the Noble Gases

Uses of other noble gases

The Atomic and Physical Properties

Selected Properties of Group 8 A Elements

Compounds of the Nobel Gases (Reactivity):

• Ar, Kr and Xe will show some reactivity

• Xe is more reactive than Ar and Kr

 due to it's low ionisation energy.

• Radon is radioactive and it will not show chemical reactivity.

Compounds of the Nobel Gases (Reactivity):

The Elements (Xenon)

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