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Element Encyclopedia
Just For Fun
The Noble Gases
The six noble gases are found in group 18 of the periodic table. These elements were considered to be inert gases until the 1960's, because their oxidation number of 0 prevents the noble gases from forming compounds readily.
All noble gases have the maximum number of electrons possible in their outer shell (2 for Helium, 8 for all others), making them stable.
Physical and chemical characteristics of the noble gases:
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they are non-metals
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they are very unreactive gases
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very little chemical activity
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they are colourless
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they exist as single atoms (they are monatomic)
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Uses of Noble Gases
Helium - Used in balloons and airships. It is much less dense than air, so balloons filled with it float upwards.
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Neon - Used in advertising signs. It glows when electricity is passed through it, and different coloured 'neon lights' can be made by coating the inside of the glass tubing with other chemicals.
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Argon - Used in light bulbs. The very thin metal filament inside the bulb would react with oxygen and burn away if the bulb were filled with air instead of argon. As argon is unreactive, it stops the filament burning away.
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Melting/Boiling Points
The noble gases all have low boiling and melting points. This is a typical property of non-metals.
Helium, at the top of group 0, has the lowest boiling/melting point in the group. The boiling/melting points then increase as you go down the group.
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The boiling and melting points increase down the group because as you go down the group the elements have more electron shells and because of larger size the outer electrons are less tightly held in the larger atoms, which makes the boiling and melting points higher.
CITATION:
BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Noble gases. (n.d.). Retrieved December 27, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/oils/changesrev6.shtml
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Webmaster@chemicalelements.com, Y. B. (n.d.). Chemical Elements.com - Noble Gases. Retrieved December 27, 2016, from http://www.chemicalelements.com/groups/noblegases.html
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The Noble Gases (Group 18) - Boundless Open Textbook. (n.d.). Retrieved December 27, 2016, from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/periodic-properties-8/variation-in-chemical-properties-70/the-noble-gases-group-18-330-1854/