What are Inert Gases?
Elements of group 18 are all gases and have completely filled outermost orbital, that's why these elements are highly stable and don’t react with other elements easily. This is the reason these elements are known as inert gases or inert elements. The word inert means chemically unreactive. These gases are also known as Noble Gases. Group 18 is also called the zero group. So, elements of group 18 are also called zero group elements.
They are generally colourless, odourless and tasteless and non-inflammable gas. For many decades they are put into zero groups of the traditional periodic table as they are thought to be completely non-bonding to other atoms, so that the atoms of the noble gases do not react with the atoms of any other elements for a new chemical compound. Their structural identification along with the finding of their characteristics that shows that in the special condition they do react to form some of the special compounds have correctly put them in group 18 of the modern periodic table.
As the atomic number of the noble gases increases their abundance in the atmosphere decreases. Therefore, after hydrogen, helium is the second most abundant gas that is found in the earth’s atmosphere. The most commercial methods of obtaining the Noble gases are in the air except for helium and radon and they are extracted out of the air by the liquefaction and fractional distillation methods. Energy and particles, helium nuclei (alpha particles) and radon atoms are seen to be emitted out of the nuclei of the radium atom spontaneously.
Noble Gases List
Here we are providing a list of Inert Gases with their electronic configuration –
Noble gas Helium was discovered by Pierre Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer. Noble gas Radon was discovered by Friedrich Ernst Dorn while the remaining four noble gases Neon, Argon, Krypton and Xenon were discovered by Sir William Ramsay. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 for his achievements.
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Characteristic of Noble gas
The characteristics of the Noble gases are as follows:-
Electronic configurations:
The members of the group 18 elements have 18 valence electrons, that is they have 8 electrons in their outermost orbitals. The only exception is helium gas. Thus, they have a very stable electronic configuration as their octane is fully and completely filled with electrons. But a duplet configuration is exhibited by Helium. The configuration of inert gases, in general, is ns2np6 (except helium which has 1s2).
Atomic radii:
Usually the members of group 18 elements have very small atomic radii as compared to the other elements of other groups till group 17. The atomic radii increase as we move down the group as new shells keep adding to the octane number.
Ionization enthalpy:
As the Noble gas have a complete octane number that is they have completely filled outer electrons. Therefore they exhibit a stable electronic configuration due to the 8 electrons present in their outermost orbits except that of helium. Thus, the ionization energy of the Noble gases, in general, is very high as compared to any other elements of the periodic table. Through their relative ionization energy decreases as we move down the group because of their increase in the atomic radii.
Electron gain enthalpy:
As the Noble gas has a complete octane number that is they have completely filled outer electrons. Therefore they exhibit a stable electronic configuration due to the 8 electrons present in their outermost orbits except that of helium. Thus they exhibit a greater positive value of the electron gain enthalpy that is quite high as compared to any other elements in the periodic table.
Applications of Inert Gases
There are numerous uses of inert gases or noble gases in various fields especially in the field of metallurgy. Here we are listing a few applications of each inert gas separately in many fields –
Helium
Helium is used for the treatment of asthma, emphysema and other breathing problems.
Helium is used in balloons.
Helium is used in welding.
Helium is used in industries for preventing explosions.
Helium is used for cryogenics.
Liquid Helium is used for magnetic resonance imaging.
Helium is used in semiconductor processing.
Helium is used in laser processing as well.
Neon
We used to use Neon in television tubes.
Neon is also used in cryogenics.
Neon is used in signboards as on passing electricity it glows brightly.
Neon is used in lasers.
Neon is used in wave meter tubes.
Neon is used to shield electrical equipment from lightning.
Neon is used in lighting systems such as lamps etc.
Neon gives different colours with metals such as mercury. It is used for landscaping and interior design.
Neon is used in parts of aircraft.
Argon
Argon is used to create an inert atmosphere.
It is used for the production of titanium.
It is used in welding.
It is used in light bulbs to prevent them from corrosion.
It is used in the tires of luxury cars to protect tires and reduce noise on the road.
It is used in double-glazed windows.
It is used in radioisotope dating.
Being inert gas argon is used in heat treating processes for matters.
It is used in 3-D printing.
It is used in metallurgy as it prevents oxidation or rusting.
Krypton
It is used in tubes of fluorescent lights.
It is used in flash lamps which are used for high-speed photography.
It is also used in signboards.
It is used in nuclear fusion energy research experiments.
It is used in constructing electromagnetic calorimeters.
It has application in MRI for imaging airways.
It is used in nuclear medicine for lung ventilation or perfusion scans.
It is used in satellites as a propellant.
Xenon
It is used in photographic flashes.
It is used in high-pressure arc lamps.
It is used in bactericidal lamps which are used in food preparation and processing.
It is used in those lamps which are used in ruby lasers.
It is used in spacecraft.
It is used in silicon microprocessors to form a protective layer on it.
Xenon lamps can be used to kill bacteria.
A mixture of oxygen and xenon helps in increasing the number of RBCs in the blood.
It is used in NMR Spectroscopy.
It is used in imaging the heart, brain and lungs.
Radon
It is a chemically inert but radioactive element. It is used in cancer therapy.
It is used for the treatment of tumours.
It is used in radiation therapy.
By measuring radon content, we can track air masses.
It is used in hydrological research.
It is helpful in earthquake predictions.
It is used in industrial radiography.
It is used to cure arthritis.
It is useful for obtaining polonium by radioactive decomposition.
By measuring radon concentration in soil, we can map surface geological faults.
FAQs on Inert Gases: Uses
1. Why are inert gases inert in nature?
The inert gas is inert in nature because they are non-reactive as they do not react with any other element to form a new chemical compound. It is because they are highly stable in nature because of their completely filled outermost shell. Their octane is complete and they do exhibit a stable electronic configuration.
2. Name the seven Noble gases in the periodic table?
The seven Noble gases in the periodic table are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), radon (Rn), and oganesson (Og).
3. Why are inert gases useful?
Their lack of reactivity makes inert gases valuable in various applications. Here are some key uses:
Preventing oxidation: Inert gases like argon are used to purge oxygen from containers of food, chemicals, and electronics to prevent spoilage and corrosion.
Creating inert atmospheres: During welding, cutting, and refining of metals, inert gases like argon or helium are used to exclude oxygen and prevent undesirable reactions with the hot metal.
Medical applications: Helium is mixed with oxygen for deep-sea divers to prevent decompression sickness. Xenon has been used as an anesthetic, and radon isotopes are used in cancer therapy.
Lighting: Neon is used in fluorescent lights and decorative signs due to its unique glowing properties.
Aerospace: Helium is used to lift airships and weather balloons due to its lightness and non-flammability.
Scientific research: Inert gases like helium are used to achieve extremely low temperatures for research in physics and materials science.
4. Are there any common misconceptions about inert gases?
While generally unreactive, under certain conditions or at high temperatures, some inert gases can react with other elements. Additionally, not all gases categorised as "inert" are noble gases. Nitrogen, for example, is commonly used for food packaging due to its low reactivity, but it is not considered a noble gas.
5. How are the uses of inert gases related to other topics in chemistry?
Understanding the properties of inert gases, such as their electron configuration and reactivity, is crucial for comprehending other chemical concepts like bonding, periodic trends, and chemical equilibria. Studying their applications sheds light on how chemical principles translate into practical uses in various industries and technologies.
6. What are the limitations of inert gases?
While valuable, some limitations exist:
Cost: Some noble gases, especially xenon and radon, are rare and expensive, limiting their widespread use.
Environmental concerns: Helium is a finite resource, and its depletion raises concerns about future availability.
Radioactivity: Radon is a radioactive gas, posing health risks in high concentrations.