THE NOBLE GASES

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Group 0 the noble gases

Coming after Group 7, you might expect these to be called

Group 8 – and in some books they are.

Group 0 is a better name though – because that’s what they do!

Gp 0
H He
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Ne
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
Ar
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
Kr
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Xe
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
Fr Ra Ac Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt ? ? ? Rn

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Electron Structure and Reactivity

All the elements in this group

He 2 have fully occupied outer shells.

They are the least chemically

Ne reactive elements. The stable
2,8
arrangement means that the
noble gases do not form
chemical bonds with each other
or other elements.

Ar 2,8,8 They are monatomic which

means they exist as individual
atoms.

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Uses of Noble Gases

You might think that a group of

elements that have almost no
reactions would have few uses.

You would be wrong! They have

many uses, mostly based upon their
ability to prevent other (undesirable)
reactions taking place.

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Uses of Helium

- Balloons (big and small).

- Protective gas for growing silicon

crystals in silicon chip manufacture.
-
- Rare documents preservation (i.e.
US Declaration of Independence).
-
- Pressurizing agent for liquid fuel
rockets (inert so won't react).

- Coolant for the super-conductors

used in body scanners.

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Uses of Neon

- Fluorescent lights
and ‘neon’ signs.

- TV tubes.

- Neon lasers.

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Uses of Argon

- Used to fill light bulbs because the

filament will not react with argon.

- Used as an inert gas shield for arc

welding and cutting especially metals
easily damaged by oxygen such as
aluminium & stainless steel.

- Argon is involved in dating the ages

of rocks by potassium-argon dating.

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Match the gas with the use

He

Ar

Ne

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Patterns: Density!

- There can be few chemical patterns for a group as

unreactive as this.
- There are still trends in physical properties

8.9

5.45 Rn
Xe
3.46
Density g/dm- Kr
3 Ar
1.66
Ne
0.84 He

0.17

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- There are also trends in boiling point.

- Can you predict the B.Pts of Kr Xe and Rn?

-62

-108 Rn
Xe
-152
Boiling Point Kr
C Ar
-186
Ne
-246 He

-269

-300 -200 -100 0

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Which is NOT a true statement about the
noble gases?

A. They contain shells that are full or empty

B. They are monatomic gases
C. They are un-reactive.
D. They are lighter than air

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Which gas is used in normal light bulbs?

A. Helium
B. Neon
C. Argon
D. Krypton

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Which gas is used in airships?

A. Helium
B. Neon
C. Argon
D. Krypton

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Which gas is used in red fluorescent lights?

A. Helium
B. Neon
C. Argon
D. Krypton

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Which gas is used to provide a shield of
inert gas during arc welding of metals like
aluminium?

A. Helium
B. Neon
C. Argon
D. Krypton

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