Question

The inert gases are
A) Polyatomic
B) Triatomic
C) Diatomic
D) Monoatomic

Answer 1

Hint: Inert gases have completely filled the valence shell. Its general valence shell electronic configuration of an inert gas element is \[n{{s}^{2}}n{{p}^{6}}\]. Thus it is totally unreactive and does not react with any element.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The general valence shell electronic configuration of inert gas elements is \[n{{s}^{2}}n{{p}^{6}}\].Thus it contains two electrons in the ns subshell and six in the np subshell. The elements with noble gas configuration are highly stable due to the filled valence shell. This are inert and does not react easily. Again these elements have ionisation energy as it requires very high energy to remove an electron. As these elements are totally unreactive so, they exist as monatomic elements.

The inert gases are actually the noble gases. This resides in the group 18 of the modern periodic table. The inert gas elements are helium, neon, argon, xenon, radon and krypton. All these elements are monatomic. Thus we can write that the inert gases are monatomic.
Thus the correct option is D.

Note: Due to the inert nature of the noble gas elements these are widely used to create the inert atmosphere in various chemical synthesis. Among the inert gas elements, randon is the radioactive element. Helium is the most important element and it is considered as an alpha particle.