What is the correct order of occurrence (per cent by weight) in air of \(\mathrm{Ne}, \mathrm{Ar}, \mathrm{Kr}\) ? (a) \(\mathrm{Ne}>\mathrm{Ar}>\mathrm{Kr}\) (b) \(\mathrm{Ar}>\mathrm{Ne}>\mathrm{Kr}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Ar}>\mathrm{Kr}>\mathrm{Ne}\) (d) \(\mathrm{Ne}>\mathrm{Kr}<\mathrm{Ar}\)

The atmosphere houses a myriad of gases, each playing a unique role in the Earth's ecological balance. Among these gases, the noble gases—argon (Ar), neon (Ne), and krypton (Kr), among others—stand out for their chemical inertness, which means they rarely participate in reactions under normal conditions. This property makes them stable and persisting currently in the atmosphere..

Noble gases are present in relatively minute quantities when compared to the more prevalent atmospheric gases like nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂). Argon is the most abundant among noble gases, featuring prominently as the third most common gas in the atmosphere. Trailing far behind argon's prevalence are neon and krypton, both of which comprise much smaller fractions of the atmospheric pie.

Understanding the proportions of these gases is critical, not only for academic inquiry but also for applications in sectors like lighting, where neon and krypton are used, and in industries where argon is utilized for inert environments crucial for welding and preserving historical documents and materials.

The composition of air can be quite unintuitive; it is a complex mixture of various gases, each contributing to the total mass of the atmosphere in different proportions. When we refer to 'air composition by weight', we're focusing on how much each gas contributes to the total mass of a given volume of air, rather than its volume ratio.

It's important to note that the gravitational force plays a role here—Heavier gases contribute more to the weight than lighter ones. While nitrogen and oxygen are the heavyweights in this scenario, making up roughly 99% of the atmosphere by weight, noble gases, despite their low volume percentage, also contribute significantly by weight due to their varied atomic masses. For example, argon, being heavier than neon, accounts for a greater proportion by weight, even if its volume percentage is not drastically different.

When calculating the overall air composition by weight, the molar mass of the gases—and not just their volume percentage—is taken into consideration. This conveys a more accurate depiction of the atmosphere's makeup and is essential in fields such as meteorology and environmental science.

The atmosphere is a protective blanket enveloping Earth, composed of several layers, each with a distinctive set of gases. The breakdown of Earth's atmosphere components can be dynamic, but it generally follows a consistent composition structure.

The trophosphere, which is closest to Earth's surface, contains the air we breathe—an intricate blend mainly made up of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). Among the remaining 1%, a variety of gases reside, including the noble gases like argon, neon, and krypton. However, the overall atmospheric composition is not uniform and changes with altitude. In the stratosphere, for instance, ozone becomes more prominent and plays a crucial role in absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation.

The accurate understanding of the Earth's atmosphere components is foundational for numerous scientific and industrial activities. It helps in predicting weather patterns, understanding climate change, designing aerospace vehicles, and optimizing communication systems among other applications. By closely examining the unique contributions and interactions of these gases, we continue to unveil the complex, yet fascinating nature of Earth's protective shield—the atmosphere.