Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 4: Problem 21

What property do the noble gases share? How do the electron configurations of the noble gases give them this shared property?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Noble gases share the property of being low reactive or inert. This is due to their stable electron configuration where the outermost shell is completely filled with electrons, rendering them no need to participate in chemical reactions.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Common Property of Noble Gases

Noble gases are elements in group 18 of the periodic table. Their most notable property is their low reactivity. They are known for being inert, that is, they don’t readily participate in chemical reactions.
02

Explain the Electron Configuration of Noble Gases

The electron configuration of an atom explains its chemical reactivity. For noble gases, their electron configuration is stable, meaning the highest energy level (outermost shell) is fully packed with electrons. Depending on the period, the outermost shell may contain 2 electrons (as in helium) or 8 electrons (as in other noble gases like neon, argon, krypton, etc.). Due to this full outer shell, they lack the tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons, making them unreactive.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

What category do most of the elements of the periodic table fall under?

Why was Mendeleev's periodic table accepted by most chemists?

What are elements in the first group of the periodic table called?

Without looking at the periodic table, identify the period and group in which each of the following elements is located. $$\begin{array}{l}{\text { a. }[\mathrm{Rn}] 7 s^{1}} \\ {\text { b. }[\mathrm{Ar}] 4 s^{2}} \\ {\text { c. }[\mathrm{Ne}] 3 s^{2} 3 p^{6}}\end{array}$$

What role did supernovae play in creating the natural elements?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free