What are the noble gases?

1 Answer
Oct 7, 2014
  • A Noble Gas is a group of elements that in their standard state have a filled electron cloud.

  • These elements are found in the 18th column of the periodic table and include Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe) and Radon (Rn). They are all odourless and colourless mono-atomic elements.

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Because these elements are already electron stable and do not need to gain or lose electrons in order to complete the valence electron clouds, these elements are relatively inert or un-reactive.
However, adding an electric charge to these elemental gases causes the illumination used in tube (Neon) lighting systems.