Inorganic chemistryLesson 4 of 4 in the course Representative Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals

Noble-Gas Sources, Physical Properties, Uses, and Xenon Compounds

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The noble gases—helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon—occupy group 18 of the periodic table. Their filled valence shells make them much less reactive than most elements, but they are not entirely unreactive. This lesson explores where noble gases are found, how they are obtained, what makes their physical properties distinctive, how they are used, and how some form compounds.

All flashcards

Which elements are the noble gases?
The group 18 elements are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
How are argon, neon, krypton, and xenon obtained?
They are separated from liquid air by fractional distillation, which uses differences in their boiling points.
Why do noble gases have low boiling points, and what is unusual about helium?
Weak London dispersion forces are the main attractions between noble-gas atoms. At ordinary pressure, helium remains liquid even near absolute zero and solidifies under elevated pressure.
What are two important applications of helium?
Helium fills balloons and lighter-than-air craft because it does not burn. Liquid helium cools cryogenic systems and superconducting magnets, including those used in MRI.
What makes dry xenon trioxide and perxenate notable?
Dry solid XeO₃ is extremely explosive and can detonate spontaneously. In the perxenate ion, XeO₆⁴⁻, xenon has the +8 oxidation state.

Quiz questions

  1. What electron arrangement chiefly accounts for the low reactivity of noble gases?Answer: Their outer electron shells are filled.
  2. What produces the characteristic red glow of a low-pressure neon lamp?Answer: An electric discharge passes through the neon gas.
  3. In an incandescent bulb, what does argon help inhibit?Answer: Vaporization of the hot tungsten filament.
  4. How is xenon difluoride prepared according to the described method?Answer: Heat excess xenon with fluorine, then cool the mixture.
  5. How does radon arise in soils and minerals?Answer: It forms through radioactive decay of other elements.

Based on Chemistry 2e by Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, William R. Robinson, PhD (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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