NOBLE GASES

I. INTRODUCTION
1.What are noble gases?
Ans: The elements Helium, Neon, Argon,Krypton, Xenon and Radon belong to zero group of the periodic
table.

Due to their chemical inertness they are also called inert gases.

Their abundance is very low in air and hence they are called rare gases.

These belong to O group (18 group in IUPAC).

2. What is the position of noble gases in the Periodic table?
Ans: 18th group in the periodic table .These lie between more electronegative 17 th group haloges and more
electropositive alkali metals .
3. Explain the electronic configuration of noble gases.
Helium has 1s2 and other elements have ns2np6 (octet) general valence electronic configurations.
This configuration is highly stable and hence they are chemically unreactive.
Element

Symbol Z

Electronic
configuration
1s2
[He] 2s2 2p6
[Ne] 3s2 3p6
[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p6
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p6

Helium
He
2
Neon
Ne 10
Argon
Ar 18
Krypton
Kr 36
Xenon
Xe 54
Radon
Rn 86
4. Explain the discovery of noble gases.
Noble gases were not discovered at any single point of time and the discovery took more than a century.
A) Helium:
i)Jannsen and Lockyer observed a new line D3 in the solar spectrum obtained during total solar eclipse.
ii)They concluded that the D3 line belonged to a new element, which was named Helium [helios meaning
sun].
iii)Later it was isolated from nitrogen gas by Ramsay.
B) Argon:
i)Rayleigh found that the density of nitrogen isolated from air is slightly higher than the density of nitrogen
obtained from chemical compounds.
ii)He suggested that, this were due to the presence of a new gas, which was named as Argon [argos meaning
lazy or idle].
C)Neon:
iii)Ramsay and Travers carried out repeated fractional distillation of liquid argon. The first fraction was
found to contain a new element of atomic weight 20.
iv) It was named Neon [neos meaning new].
D) Krypton and Xenon:
By repeating the experiments with liquid air, two more elements were discovered.
These elements were named Krypton [kryptos meaning hidden] and Xenon [xenos meaning strange].
E) Radon:
Radon was discovered by Dorn as one of the disintegration products of radium.
226
88

222
Ra 86
Rn 24 He

Element
Helium
Neon
Argon
Krypton
Xenon
Radon

Discoverer
Jannsen&Lockyer
Ramsay &Travers
Rayleigh
Ramsay &Travers
Ramsay &Travers
Dorn

Prepared by G S Reddy (09739601466)

Meaning
helios meaning sun
neos meaning new
argos meaning lazy or idle
kryptos meaning hidden
xenos meaning strange

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5. Explain the Occurrence of noble gases.

Except radon, all the noble gases occur in the universe in free state.

The main sources are a) air

b)Natural gas contain up to 7% He
c) Radioactive minerals contain Helium
d) Spring water : dissolved He, Ne, Ar
226
222
4
e) Radon from radioactive decay ( 88 Ra 86 Rn 2 He )

In air, Ar is the most abundant. The least abundant is He (by mass) or Xe (by volume).
Abundance in air
Element
Helium
Neon
Argon
Krypton
Xenon
% by volume
510-4
1810-3
0932
1510-3
8710-6
% by weight 3710-5
1010-3
1285
2810-4
4010-5

6. Explain the Physical properties noble gases.

A)
All are colorless, odorless and tasteless gases.
B) Noble gases are mono-atomic.
C) Atomic sizes and densities increase from He to Rn.
D) They are sparingly soluble in water.
E) They have very low melting and boiling points.
F) Ionisation Energy: Due to their stable electronic configuration , noble gas possesses very high
ionization enthalpy.
Ionization potential decreases from He to Rn.
Helium possess highest ionization enthalpy.
G) Electron gain enthalpy: Due to their stable electronic configuration , noble gas possesses have no
tendency to accept electron ie they have large positive electron gain enthalpies.
7. Why noble gases are least reactive ?
Ans: Noble gases are least reactive due to the following reasons.
i)
Except helium (1s2) all noble gases have completely filled ns2np6(octet) configuration.
ii)
They have gigh ionization enthalpy and more +ve electron gain enthalpy.
8. Name the first noble gas compound prepared .

Ans: Xenon platinumhexafluoride Xe PtF6 by Bartlett.

9. Name the different xenon compounds.
Ans: Xenon reacts with Fluorine and oxygen forming different compounds
Fluorides

Oxides

Oxyfluorides

XeF2 Xenondifluoride

XeO3 Xenontrioxide

XeOF2 Xenonoxydifluoride

XeF4 Xenontetrafluoride

XeO4 Xenontetroxide

XeO2 F2 Xenondioxydifluoride

XeF6 Xenonhexafluoride

XeOF4 Xenonoxytetrafluoride

10. How are Xenon fluorides prepared?

Ans: Xenon directly combine with Fluorine under suitable conditions to form different fluorides .
i)

ii)

Xe( g ) F2( g )

673 K ,1bar

( Xenon in excess )
Xe( g ) 2 F2( g )
873 K ,7 bar

XeF2( S )
XeF4( S )

(1: 5 ratio)

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iii)

Xe( g ) 3F2( g )
573 K ,60 70 bar

XeF6( S )

(1: 20 ratio)

Note: i)XeF6 can also be prepared by the interaction of XeF 4 and O2F2 at 143K

XeF4 O2 F
2

143 K

XeF6 O2

iii)
Xenon fluorides are clourless crystalline solids and sublime readily at 298K.
iv)
They are powerful fluorinating agents.
11. Explain the hydrolysis reactions of Xenon fluorides .
Ans:a)Hydrolysis of XeF2 gives Xe, HF and O2.

2 XeF2 ( s ) H 2O(l
)

2 Xe( g ) 4 HF( g ) O2 ( g )

b) Hydrolysis of XeF4 and XeF6 gives XeO3

6 XeF4 12 H 2O

XeF6 3H 2O

4 Xe 2 XeO
3 24HF 3O2
XeO
3 6 HF

c) Partial hydrolysis of XeF6 yields Xenon oxyfluorides.

XeF6 H 2 O

XeF6 2 H 2O

XeOF
4

2 HF

XeO
2 F2

4 HF

12. Explain the geometry of various xenon Compounds .

Xenon Compound
Structure
Xenon difluoride
( XeF2 molecule)

Details
Hybridisation : sp3d
Shape
: Linear
Angle
: 180
Lp:bp
: 3:2
Formed in 1st excited state
Non-polar

XeF4 molecule

Hybridisation : sp3d2
Shape
: Square planar
Angle
: 90
Lp:bp
: 2:4
Formed in 2nd excited state
Non-polar molecule

XeF6 molecule

Hybridisation : sp3d3
Shape
: distorted
octahedral
Angle
: 180
Lp:bp
: 1:6
Formed in 3rd excited state
Polar molecule

XeO3 molecule
(colourless,
explosive solid)

Hybridisation : sp3
Shape
: Pyramidal
Angle
: 103
Lp:bp
: 1:6
Formed in 3rd excited state
Polar molecule

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XeO4 molecule

Xe

XeOF2 molecule

Hybridisation : sp3
Shape
: Tetrahedral
Angle
: 109
Lp:bp
: 0:8
Formed in 4th excited state
Non-polar molecule
Hybridisation : sp3d
Shape
: T shape
Angle
: nearly900
Lp:bp
: 2:4
Formed in 2nd excited state
Polar molecule

Xe

F
XeO2F2 molecule

Hybridisation : sp3d
Shape
: Sea saw
Angle
: nearly 900
Lp:bp
: 1:6
Formed in 3rd excited state
Polar molecule

Xe

XeOF4 molecule
(Colourless
volatile liquid )

Hybridisation : sp3d2
Shape
: Square pyramidal
Angle
: nearly 900
Lp:bp
: 1:6
Formed in 3rd excited state
Polar molecule

Note: Hybridisation can be found using the fiormula:

Number of Hybrid Orbitals(HOs) =

Example: i)

XeO3 F2 : In this HOs =

GM
2

82
5 ( sp 3 d )
2

where G= number of valence electrons

M= number of monovalent atoms like Fatoms

Lone pairs on Xe = HOs- number of atoms bonded to xenon= 5-5= 0(Trigonal bipyramidal)
ii)

XeO2 F4 : In this HOs =

84
6 ( sp 3 d 2 )
2

Lone pairs on Xe = HOs- number of atoms bonded to xenon= 6-6= 0( Octahedral)

13. Explain the uses of noble gases.

1) Helium:
Prepared by G S Reddy (09739601466)

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a)Helium is light and non-inflammablegas . Hence it is used in filling balloons for matereological
observations.
b) A mixture of helium and oxygen is used in modern diving apparatus due to its very low solubility in
blood under pressure unlike N2.
c) It is used in gas cooled nuclear reactors .
d) Liquid helium is used as cryogenic liquid for carrying out various experiments at low temperature.
Note: i) A mixture of He and O2 is used in the treatment of asthma.
ii)Helium used in gas filled thermometers to measure low temperatures.
2) Neon
a) Neon is used in discharge tubes and fluotscent bulbs for advertising disply purposes
b) Neon lamps are used in botanical gardens and in green houses .
Note: Neon is used as signal lights and as beacon lights for safe air navigation.
3) Argon
a) It is used in to provide an inert atmosphere in high temperature metallurgical process ( arc welding of
metals or alloys)
b) Argon gas is used along with nitrogen in filling electric bulbs.
4) Krypton
A mixture of Krypton and nitrogen is used in electric bulbs.
Kr-85 is used in electronic tubes for voltage regulations.
Kr-85 is used in the measurement of the thickness of metal sheets.
5)Xenon
Xenon is used in high speed photography as it gives an intense bright light..
Liquid xenon is used for detecting neutral mesons and gamma photons in the bubble chamber.
6) Radon
It is used in the radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
It is used in locating the defects in steel castings.
IN TEXT Questions
14)
Why the 18th group elements are known as noble gases?
Ans: All the elements in 18th group have completely filled valence shell orbitals .Due to this these are
chemically unreactive and form very few compounds .Hence They are called Noble gases.
15)Noble gases have very low boiling points .Why?
Ans: Noble gases are monoatomic and possess very weak dispersion forces between the atoms.Hence they
have low boiling points .
Helium has the lowest boiling point (4.2K)
16) Does the hydrolysis of XeF6 leads to a redox reaction?
Ans: No. In the hydrolysis of XeF6 the oxidation state of xe in the products XeO3, XeO2F2, and XeOF4 is
same (+6)
17) Why is Helium used in diving apparatus ?
Ans: A mixture of helium and oxygen is used in modern diving apparatus due to its very low solubility in
blood under pressure unlike N2.
18) Why it has been difficult to study the chemistry of Radon?
Ans: Radon is radioactive with very short half-life which makes the study of chemistry of
radon difficult.
QUESTIONS FROM EXERCISE
19) What inspired Bartlett for carrying out reaction between Xe and PtF6?

Ans: Bartlett first prepared a red compound O2 PtF6 by reacting O2 and PtF6

Bartlett realized that ionization enthalpy of O 2 ( 1175kJ/mol) and Xenon ( 1170kJ/mol) are almost
same .

Bartlett then prepared the first noble gas compound Xe PtF6 by reacting Xe with PtF6.
20) Which one of the following does not exist ?
a) XeOF4
b) NeF2
c) XeF2
d) XeF4
21) Why do noble gases have comparatively large atomic size ?
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22) Name the noble gas having distorted octahedral shape. (Ans: XeF 6 )
23) Write the hydrolysis reaction of XeF2.(Ans: Ref Q.No11-a)m
ADDITIONAL POINTS
24)
25)
Ans :

26)

CP
value for monoatomic gases 1.67
CV
Name the 7th noble gas .
7th noble gas is Ununoctium .It is also called eka-Radon or simply 118 th element.

Physical
Characteristics
For noble gases top to bottom
Increasing properties
Atomic weight
Atomic radius
Melting & Boiling points
Solubility in water
Density
Ease of adsorption on
charcoal
Ease of liquefication
Critical temperature
Vander Waals forces
Polarizability
Reactivity of gases

For Noble Gases top to bottom

Decreasing properties
Ionisation enthalpy
Rate of diffusion
Electron gain enthalpy is
almost zero for noble gases

27) Special properties of Helium

Helium liquefies at 42K.
When cooled to 22K, it forms a new form of liquid called Helium-II.
Helium-II has extremely low viscosity. Unlike normal liquids, it flows upwards over the edges of
the vessel.
28) Explain the chemical nature of noble gases.
A)
All the noble gases have stable octet(ns2 np6)in the valence shell, except helium.(He has 1s2which is
also stable). These have high ionization energy. Hence these are chemically inert.
B)Among the noble gases, only krypton and xenon form compounds. They form compounds mainly with
fluorine and oxygen. The reasons are:
Krypton and xenon have relatively lower IP values
They have empty d-orbitals in their valance shells.
C) Krypton and xenon react only with most electronegative elements like F and O.
They do not react with N,Cl as they are less electronegative.
D)Helium and neon do not form compounds due to their very high IP values and absence of empty dorbitals in their valance shells.

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