Question

Discuss the following property with reference to noble gases:

Chemical reactivity

Answer 1

1. Noble gases have a very stable, completely filled valence shell (He: 1s²; others: ns²np⁶), making them chemically inert under normal conditions.
2. They have very high ionisation energies, so they do not easily lose electrons.
3. They possess large positive electron gain enthalpies, showing no tendency to gain electrons.
4. Due to these factors, noble gases rarely react or form compounds normally, staying mostly inert.
5. However, under special conditions (e.g., with powerful oxidising agents like PtF₆), some noble gases, especially xenon, can form compounds.
6. Before 1962, no true noble gas compounds were known; after that, noble gas chemistry expanded with synthesised compounds.
7. Their chemical inertness is due to stable electronic configuration, high ionisation energies, and positive electron gain enthalpy values.