Question

Xenon is a noble gas but it forms compounds, why? Draw the structure of any two compounds.

Answer 1

Hint: Xenon is a noble gas having electronic configuration \[\left[ {{\mathbf{Kr}}} \right]{\text{ }}{\mathbf{4}}{{\mathbf{d}}^{{\mathbf{10}}}}{\mathbf{5}}{{\mathbf{s}}^{\mathbf{2}}}{\mathbf{5}}{{\mathbf{p}}^{\mathbf{6}}}^{}\]and their valence shell orbitals completely filled and, therefore, react with a few elements only under certain condition. Therefore, it is known as Noble gas.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss why noble gases are least reactive. Their inertness to chemical reactivity is due to the following reasons.
The noble gases except helium (\[1{s^2}\]) have completely filled \[n{s^2}n{p^6}\]electronic configuration in their valence shell.
They have high ionization enthalpy means it is very difficult to remove electron from valence shell and they have more positive electron gain enthalpy means they don't accept the electron.
Now we will know the reason why Xenon forms compounds instead of being noble gas.
In March 1962, Neil Bartlett, observed the reaction of a noble gas. First he prepared a red compound which is formulated as \[{{\mathbf{O}}_{{\mathbf{2}} }}^+{\mathbf{Pt}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{6}}}^ - .\]He observed that first ionisation enthalpy of molecular oxygen is similar to Xenon. Then he tried to make similar compound of xenon and he got success to prepare a compound \[{\mathbf{X}}{{\mathbf{e}}^ + }{\mathbf{Pt}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{{\mathbf{6}} }}^-\] by mixing \[{\mathbf{Pt}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{6}}}\] and Xenon.
After this a number of xenon compounds mainly with most electronegative elements like fluorine and oxygen have been formed.
Now Let us see the compounds which are formed by Xenon.
\[{\mathbf{Xe}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{2}}},{\text{ }}{\mathbf{Xe}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{4}}},{\text{ }}{\mathbf{Xe}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{6}}},{\text{ }}{\mathbf{XeO}}{{\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{4}}},{\text{ }}{\mathbf{Xe}}{{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}}\]

                                                               Structure of $XeF_4$

                                                                        Structure of $XeO_3$

Note:
The study of noble gases and its behaviors is another topic which has to be studied in detail. This helps us understand its uses in daily life and how some of them could be used to produce new compounds.