Noble Gases: Physical Inertness & Industrial Uses

What Are Noble Gases?

Noble gases are a group of chemical elements with similar properties that are found in Group 18 of the periodic table. These gases are known for their lack of reactivity due to having a full valence shell of electrons.

The noble gases include:

• Helium (He)
• Neon (Ne)
• Argon (Ar)
• Krypton (Kr)
• Xenon (Xe)
• Radon (Rn)

Physical Inertness

• Full Valence Shell: Noble gases have a complete outer shell of electrons, making them very stable and unreactive.
• Monoatomic Gases: They exist as single atoms rather than molecules because they do not need to bond with other atoms.
• Low Boiling and Melting Points: Due to weak intermolecular forces, noble gases have low boiling and melting points.

Industrial Uses of Noble Gases

Gas	Uses
Helium (He)	Used in balloons and airships because it is lighter than air and non-flammable.
Neon (Ne)	Used in neon signs for advertising due to its bright glow when electrified.
Argon (Ar)	Used in welding to provide an inert atmosphere and in light bulbs to prevent the filament from oxidizing.
Krypton (Kr)	Used in high-performance lighting products and in some types of photographic flashes.
Xenon (Xe)	Used in flash lamps, high-intensity lamps, and as a general anesthetic.