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Chemical properties of noble gases

Noble gasses have the simplest chemical properties. In general, noble gasses do not react with other elements.

Most gasses such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen react with themselves to produce diatomic molecules. This is why you will see the symbols H2, O2 or N2 in chemistry books or in reference to these gasses. These molecules of gas share electrons in chemical bonds and are more stable than the monatomic gasses.

Noble gasses do not form dimer molecules. Helium, argon, krypton, xenon, radon all exist in nature as monatomic gasses. What's more, because their outer shell of electrons is complete, they neither lose nor gain electrons and thus do not react with other elements to form compounds.

There has been found an exception to this general rule. In the case of xenon, it has been found that under certain conditions xenon will react with fluorine to form a crystalline compound of xenon hexafluoride. These crystals have been made in the laboratory. They have a hexagonal lamellar form. Xenon hexafluoride is highly unstable and will explode with only slight input of energy. As far as I know, this is the only example of chemistry happening in the noble gas family.

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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Chemical properties of noble gases

  • 1 of 5

    by Alison Bowler

    The Noble Gases form Group 18 of the Periodic Table of elements. There are seven noble gases known to date. Older American

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  • 2 of 5

    by Raven Lebeau

    The chemical properties of noble gases are not terribly interesting. That's because noble gases have what is called a filled

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  • 3 of 5

    by Aldo Bonincontro

    The noble gases, belonging to the ZERO GROUP of the Periodic Table were considered totally inert, chemically; this is still

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  • 4 of 5

    by Jade Twits

    Noble gases could possibly be the most 'perfect', yet least interesting elements out there. You won't see any fancy fireworks

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  • 5 of 5

    by William Remski

    Noble gasses have the simplest chemical properties. In general, noble gasses do not react with other elements.

    Most gasses

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