Question

Xenon gives a series of fluorides, but helium and neon do not. Why?

(At. No.: Xe = 54, Ne = 10, He = 2.)

Answer 1

1. Xenon has a large atomic size and low ionisation enthalpy compared to helium and neon.
2. It also has vacant d-orbitals in its valence shell, which allows it to form compounds like XeF₂, XeF₄, and XeF₆ by forming Xe-F bonds.
3. In contrast, helium and neon have small atomic sizes, very high ionisation energies, and no accessible d-orbitals, making them chemically inert and unable to form fluorides.