What is Noble gases: Definition and 20 Discussions

The noble gases (historically also the inert gases; sometimes referred to as aerogens) make up a class of chemical elements with similar properties; under standard conditions, they are all odorless, colorless, monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity. The six naturally occurring noble gases are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and the radioactive radon (Rn). Oganesson (Og) is variously predicted to be a noble gas as well or to break the trend due to relativistic effects; its chemistry has not yet been investigated.
For the first six periods of the periodic table, the noble gases are exactly the members of group 18. Noble gases are typically highly unreactive except when under particular extreme conditions. The inertness of noble gases makes them very suitable in applications where reactions are not wanted. For example, argon is used in incandescent lamps to prevent the hot tungsten filament from oxidizing; also, helium is used in breathing gas by deep-sea divers to prevent oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) toxicity.
The properties of the noble gases can be well explained by modern theories of atomic structure: their outer shell of valence electrons is considered to be "full", giving them little tendency to participate in chemical reactions, and it has been possible to prepare only a few hundred noble gas compounds. The melting and boiling points for a given noble gas are close together, differing by less than 10 °C (18 °F); that is, they are liquids over only a small temperature range.
Neon, argon, krypton, and xenon are obtained from air in an air separation unit using the methods of liquefaction of gases and fractional distillation. Helium is sourced from natural gas fields that have high concentrations of helium in the natural gas, using cryogenic gas separation techniques, and radon is usually isolated from the radioactive decay of dissolved radium, thorium, or uranium compounds. Noble gases have several important applications in industries such as lighting, welding, and space exploration. A helium-oxygen breathing gas is often used by deep-sea divers at depths of seawater over 55 m (180 ft). After the risks caused by the flammability of hydrogen became apparent in the Hindenburg disaster, it was replaced with helium in blimps and balloons.

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  1. C

    Can every atom be transformed into a noble gas?

    'noble gas' is defined as an atom with its valence shell completely filled to its capacity with electrons. Assuming I take an arbitrary atom ( with its valence shell not necessarily completely filled yet ) and assuming I am either adding electrons to it or removing electrons from it or doing...
  2. YoungPhysicist

    Wood/Glass/Metal Reusing Lead: Why is My Ingot Oxidizing?

    Recently I've been recycling lead from old bullets.But everytime I recast the molten lead to an ingot, its surface is oxidized, therefore I am losing lead every single time I reuse it. Are there simple solutions to this without using an atmosphere of noble gases?
  3. Spinnor

    I Noble gases with even nuclear spin form superfluids?

    Other than Helium do Noble gases with even nuclear spin form superfluids? Is there a simple quantum mechanical explanation why the difference below of the Melting point and Boiling point of the Noble gases is roughly the same value? A yes or no would suffice. From...
  4. rpthomps

    I Noble Gases vs. Halogens: Which Has a Greater Atomic Radius?

    Does the noble gases have an atomic radius decrease or increase from halogens?
  5. M

    Noble gases don't react chemically with other substances

    I would like to ask about a question concerning noble gases. "Nobel gases don't react chemically with other substances." Is this statement about nobles gases completely correct or partially correct? Thank you Self made
  6. C

    B Why is the noble gas configuration inert?

    Walther Kossel and Gilbert Lewis: "During the formation of a chemical bond, atoms combine together by gaining, losing or sharing electrons in such a way that they acquire nearest noble gas configuration." By what understanding I have so far, and do correct me if I'm wrong, atoms tend to attain...
  7. P

    Unravelling the Mystery of Rare Gases and Binding Energy

    Hi! I saw something on my lecture notes that I don't really understand. It reads "Rare gases have filled s and p-sub-shells, which leads to a spherically symmetric charge distribution. Since electrons are indistinguishable they take on a common wavefunction. The point is that this results in a...
  8. R

    Can Noble Gases Be Manipulated to Produce Specific Emission Spectrum Lines?

    Is it possible to manipulate a noble gas to produce any line in its emission spectrum for a ? For example, argon produces blue but it also has several lines of red, can one force the argon to emit the red bands?
  9. C

    Exploring Plasma, Iron & Noble Gases: Temperature & Solid State

    The way I understand plasma is that is almost a gas except some of the electrons of separated from the nuclei entirely making positively charged. Is there a temperature in which Iron is by definition a gas, and not a plasma? Also, can something like a noble gas become a solid?
  10. N

    Does the nucleus of atoms of noble gases vibrate and emit E.M wave

    People normally talk of electrons performing oscillatory motion when an electromagnetic field is incident on an atom. But, won't the electric field of the E.M. wave cause the nucleus of the atom to vibrate...? . "Note: Here I am talking of isolated atoms, that is atoms of noble gases, and not...
  11. Weissritter

    About noble gases compounds and XeO3

    First disclaimer: Xenon trioxide, while not existing naturally, can be created artificially. This question is not like "When did you stop beating your wife?" type. So...I read this compound is explosive. Well, a coke and mentos is also explosive. TNT is too. And then, I wanted to know is...
  12. M

    Atomic weight and noble gases in Mendelev's periodic table

    Why did Mendelev order the elements according to their atomic masses rather than their atomic number? Why did Mendelev not include noble gases in his periodic table?
  13. K

    Noble gases converted to plasma?

    A partnership of companies known as Plasmerg and Intelligentry have been making some, in my opinion, crazy claims they refer to as a Plasmic Transition Process. Nevertheless my curiosity keeps me honed in on their progress reports. They claim they use a mixture of five noble gasses [ie...
  14. C

    Ionization Energies Of Noble Gases

    Homework Statement I was going through my past question and answer, I then came across this: "The noble gases have the highest ionization energies in each period". I then wondered why and how the above statement is a reality. How can the above statement be true when the noble gases have...
  15. R

    Slater orbitals for alkali earth metals and noble gases

    Hello Forum, Does anyone know where I can find the slater bases for the alkali metal 'np' orbitals and the noble gas '(n+1)p' orbitals, either altogether or individually? I'm a physicist and wanted to know what the standard (or even non-standard) reference is? I know that the...
  16. G

    Why are noble gases, gases?

    [SOLVED] why are noble gases, gases? Homework Statement this has bothered me for some time, what determines the density of an element at normal atmoshpheric conditions? and more importantly what determines if a substance at s.t.p is a gas solid or liquid Homework Equations gas...
  17. G

    Why Noble Gases Stay Gaseous

    Homework Statement why do the noble gases stay at a gas state whe almost every other element in the period doesnt? The Attempt at a Solution because the elctrons repel each other? i don't know
  18. J

    Exploring the Stable State of Noble Gases

    Hi, I am a student currently engaged in AP Physics B and AP Physics C, and I am curious as to why it is that most of the Noble Gases exhibit and exist in such a stable state. In AP Chem last year I learned that having a configuration in which the valence shell of an atom has eight electrons...
  19. Loren Booda

    Can Noble Gases Be Combined for More Vibrant Colors?

    The noble gases when electrically stimulated emit different visible wavelengths. Can they be combined for a greater variety of coloration?
  20. G

    Explain why some noble gases such as Xe will form compounds

    sorry but this si really hard for me i don't understand these 2 question. Explain why some noble gases such as Xe will form compounds and some such as Ne will not? What kinds of orbital arrangemenets contribute to the bonding in ethene H2C = CH2 thats a double bond i tried and i...
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