Question

Give appropriate reason for each of the following observation:

Of the noble gases, only xenon is known to form chemical compounds.

Answer 1

Of the noble gases, only xenon forms chemical compounds because it has a larger atomic size and lower ionisation energy compared to lighter noble gases, making it easier to excite its electrons and form bonds. Xenon can use its vacant d-orbitals for bonding, unlike helium, neon, or argon, which have very stable, fully filled electron shells that resist bonding. Hence, heavier noble gases like xenon exhibit chemical reactivity, while lighter ones do not.