Question

Which group contains the noble gases and what are the special characteristics of these gases?

Short answer

Answer: The noble gases are found in Group 18 or Group 0 of the periodic table. Their special characteristic is that they are chemically inert or not very reactive due to their full valence electron shells, making them very stable and rarely forming chemical bonds with other elements.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the group for noble gases.

The group containing the noble gases in the periodic table is known as Group 18 or Group 0.

List the noble gases.

The noble gases are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn).

Describe the electron configuration.

The noble gases have a full valence electron shell, which means that they have the maximum number of electrons in their outermost shell. This electron configuration is very stable and is reached after gaining or losing electrons, which is why these gases are called noble.

Discuss the chemical reactivity.

The special characteristic of noble gases is that they are chemically inert or not very reactive. Due to their full valence electron shells, they have little tendency to gain or lose electrons, making them very stable and rarely forming chemical bonds with other elements.

Describe the physical properties.

Noble gases are all colorless, odorless, and tasteless gases at room temperature and pressure. They are also monoatomic, which means they exist as individual atoms rather than as molecules. Furthermore, they have very low boiling and melting points, and they don't easily condense into liquids or solid forms.

Explain the uses of noble gases.

Due to their non-reactive nature, noble gases find applications in various fields. For example, helium is used as a coolant in MRI machines and as a lifting gas in balloons and airships; neon is used in neon signs for advertising and lighting; argon is used as an inert shielding gas in welding and as a filler gas in incandescent light bulbs; krypton and xenon are used in specialized lighting systems; and radon is used in medical radiotherapy for cancer treatment.