The Noble Gases

Mike Mattei Dan Hempsey Dana Lynch

Group 18
Known as The Noble Gases
The unreactive elements: Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon Exist as single atoms instead of diatomic molecules Rarely combine with other elements

Helium HE
Colorless Oderless Tasteless Non toxic Most abundant gas in the universe

atomic #2
Helium remains liquid until absolute zero Divers and other people working under pressure use a mixture of helium and oxygen used for filling balloons and blimps. Manhattan Project scientists used helium to make the atomic bomb mixed with oxygen, in asthma treatment because it diffuses very easily through the lungs

Neon NE
Sir William Ramsay discovered neon shortly after the element krypton in 1898. highly inert forms no known compounds Largest use for neon is in advertising signs

atomic #10
gives a distinct reddish glow when used in vacuum discharge tubes and neon lamps. Neon and helium together are used to make gas lasers. Functions in high voltage indicators.

All noble gases produce a color Helium- yellow Neon- red orange Aragon- violet

Argon AR
Greek meaning inactive due to its inactivity Discovered in 1894 full outer shell makes it stable and resistant to bonding with other elements.

atomic #18
used to fill incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs to prevent oxygen from corroding the hot filament.

forms inert atmospheres for arc welding and growing semiconductor crystals. dating rocks with a process called Potassium-Argon dating

Krypton KR
Discovered by William Ramsey Greek wording meaning hidden. White Inert gas

atomic #36
Illuminate strips at airports Used with nitrogen in fluorescent light bulbs so gases will not burnout. Used in lighting and photography

isolated from the air by liquefaction as the other noble gases

Xenon XE
Discovered by William Ramsey is the rarest of the stable noble gases in the air. The first noble gas compound was produced by Neil Bartlett in 1964 xenon, platinum and fluorine.

atomic #54
Strobe lights once in photographic flash cubes General anesthetic

Radon RN
Radioactive gas potential health hazard in some homes Radon is found in underground deposits where it is produced by uranium and radium decay.

atomic #86
Uranium decays in rocks and oils Breathing in for a long amount of time can cause cancer