Group 18
01 July 2023 14:35
Introduction:
Elements:
Common name: Noble gases
Ques: Why are the elements of Group 18 known as inert gases ?
Sol:
Occurrence:
• All gases except Rn and Og occur in the atmosphere
• Atmospheric abundance in dry air is ~ 1% by volume of which argon is the major constituent
• Helium and Neon are found in minerals of radioactive origin e.g., pitchblende, monazite, cleveite
• Main commercial source of helium is natural gas
• Xe and Rn are the rarest elements of the group
Electronic Configuration
Electronic Configuration
Ionisation Enthalpy
Atomic Radii
Electron Gain Enthalpy
Physical Properties:
• All gases are monoatomic
• Colourless, odourless and tasteless
• They are sparingly soluble in water
• They have very low melting and boiling points and they increases as we move down the group.
• Helium has the lowest boiling point (4.2 K) of any known substance.
• It has an unusual property of diffusing through most commonly used laboratory materials such as rubber, glass or plastics.
Ques: Noble gases have very low boiling points. Why?
Chemical Properties
• noble gases are least reactive.
Reason:
Xenon-fluorine compounds
Compounds formed XeF2, XeF4 & XeF6
Ques: Give hybridisation and shape of XeF2, XeF4 & XeF6.
Sol:
Preparation:
Properties:
• XeF2, XeF4 & XeF6 are colourless crystalline solids and sublime readily at 298 K.
• They are powerful fluorinating agents.
They are readily hydrolysed even by traces of water.
• XeF2, XeF4 & XeF6 are colourless crystalline solids and sublime readily at 298 K.
• They are powerful fluorinating agents.
• They are readily hydrolysed even by traces of water.
Xenon fluorides react with fluoride ion acceptors to form cationic species and fluoride ion donors to form fluoroanions.
Xenon Oxygen Compounds
Preparation:
Properties:
XeO3 is a colourless explosive solid and has a pyramidal molecular structure.
XeOF4 is a colourless volatile liquid and has a square pyramidal molecular structure
Uses:
Helium
• Helium is a non-inflammable and light gas. Hence, it is used in filling balloons for meteorological observations.
• Helium is also used in gas-cooled nuclear reactors.
• Liquid helium (b.p. 4.2 K) finds use as cryogenic agent for carrying out various experiments at low temperatures.
• Helium is used to produce and sustain powerful superconducting magnets which form an essential part of modern NMR
spectrometers and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems for clinical diagnosis.
• Helium is used as a diluent for oxygen in modern diving apparatus because of its very low solubility in blood.
Neon
• Neon is used in discharge tubes and fluorescent bulbs for advertisement display purposes.
• Neon bulbs are used in botanical gardens and in green houses.
Argon
• Argon is used mainly to provide an inert atmosphere in high temperature metallurgical processes (arc welding of metals or
alloys) and for filling electric bulbs.
• It is also used in the laboratory for handling substances that are air-sensitive.
Xenon and Krypton
• There are no significant uses of Xenon and Krypton. They are used in light bulbs designed for special purposes.