Group 0 (GCSE Chemistry)
Group 0 – Noble Gases
What is a Noble Gas?
Group 0 elements are non-metals that are found on the right-hand side of the periodic table. They are also known as noble gases, this is due to the highly unreactive nature of these elements. Through this tutorial we will be exploring the physical and chemical properties of the noble gasses and the trends through the group.
Chemical properties of the Noble Gases
- Noble gases are inert. Group 0 elements are highly unreactive (inert) and do not form molecules readily, this is because the electronic structure of these elements is very stable. The noble gasses all have a full outer shell so they do not need to react to gain, lose or share electrons.
- Noble gases exist as single atoms. The noble gases do not form molecules and are monoatomic. As all noble gasses have a full outer shell of electrons and are very stable, they do not need to share electrons to achieve more stability therefore exist as single atoms.
Physical properties of the Noble Gases
- Boiling point increases down Group 0. As you go down group 0, the relative atomic mass increases and the boiling point of noble gases also increases. So helium has the lowest atomic mass and the lowest boiling point whereas radon has the highest atomic mass and the highest boiling point.
- Explanation for change in boiling point. Between atoms of a particular element, there are weak attractive forces known as intermolecular forces. When atoms are boiled or melted, these intermolecular forces are broken. As you go down group 0, the atoms increase in size, as they have more electron shells. The intermolecular forces become stronger so more energy is required to break these forces thus a higher boiling point as you go down the group.
Uses of Noble Gases
The main use of noble gases is to provide an inert atmosphere.
For example argon is used in lamps and light bulbs, as it will not react with the hot filament inside the bulb when it is hot.
Also helium is used for filling balloons due to it’s low density compared to air.
Group 0, also known as the Noble gases, is a group of elements located in the far right column of the periodic table. These elements are characterized by having a full valence electron shell, making them chemically unreactive.
The Noble gases are called Group 0 because they have zero reactivity. This means that they do not react with other elements to form chemical compounds.
The elements in Group 0 are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
The Noble gases are characterized by having low boiling and melting points, being colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and being gases at room temperature.
The Noble gases have a full valence electron shell, which means they have eight electrons in their outermost energy level. This gives them a stable electron configuration and makes them chemically unreactive.
The Noble gases are important because they are used in a variety of applications, including lighting (neon lights), cooling and refrigeration (liquid argon), and welding (argon gas). They are also used in medical imaging and as tracer gases in environmental studies.
Yes, the Noble gases are found in nature. They are extracted from air and from natural gas deposits. They can also be produced through nuclear decay.
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