Group 0: The Noble Gases (OCR GCSE Chemistry A (Gateway Science Suite)): Revision Notes
1.2.4 Group 0: The Noble Gases
Group 0: These are all colourless monatomic gases. Monatomic means that the gases exist as single, un-bonded atoms.
Their melting points and density rise as we go down the group.
Uses of the Noble Gases
Here are some of the main uses of the noble gases:
Helium is used:
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In balloons.
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In the mixture of gases deep-sea divers breathe.
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In its liquid state, to cool the superconducting magnets in body scanners. Neon is used:
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In electric discharge tubes (used in advertising signs). Argon is used:
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Inside light bulbs.
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In welding, to stop the hot metal oxidising. Krypton is used:
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In lasers used to operate on eyes. Radon is used:
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To treat cancers (its radioactive atoms destroy cells).
Why Are the Noble Gases So Unreactive?
The noble gases were originally called the inert gases. The word 'inert' describes a substance that has no reactions.
However, in 1962, the first compound containing a noble gas was made, and the group was later renamed!
Electronic Structure of the Noble Gases:
- The noble gases have a complete highest energy level (full outer shell), which makes the atoms of a noble gas so stable and unlikely to react.
- There are only a few compounds of noble gases, mainly formed with the reactive elements fluorine and oxygen, and then only with the larger noble gases.