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Helium and neon are the first two elements in Group 0 of the Periodic Table - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science - Question 16 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 16
Helium and neon are the first two elements in Group 0 of the Periodic Table. Look at the symbols for helium and neon. Describe the similarities and differences in t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Helium and neon are the first two elements in Group 0 of the Periodic Table - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science - Question 16 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe the similarities in the atomic structures of helium and neon
Answer
Both helium (He) and neon (Ne) are noble gases, meaning they have complete electron shells, which makes them chemically stable.
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Electron Configuration: Helium has an atomic number of 2 and has 2 electrons, denoted as
Neon, with an atomic number of 10, has 10 electrons, which can be arranged as
.
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Group: They are both located in Group 0 of the Periodic Table, indicating they share similar properties of very low reactivity.
Step 2
Describe the differences in the atomic structures of helium and neon
Answer
The key differences in the atomic structures of helium and neon include:
- Number of Electrons: Helium has 2 electrons while neon has 10 electrons, leading to different energy levels and overall size of the atoms.
- Atomic Size: Neon has a larger atomic radius compared to helium due to the increased number of electron shells.
- Chemical Reactivity: Although both are unreactive, helium is less reactive due to its smaller size and lesser electron repulsion compared to neon.