Students' work on topics covered in the subject

Nasim Dardouri
Form 3.3 Copper

THE NOBLE GASES

                                          

  

The six noble gases are found in group 18 (also known as group 0) of the periodic table. These elements were considered to be inert gases until the 1960's, because their oxidation number of 0 prevents the noble gases from forming compounds readily. All noble gases have the maximum number of electrons possible in their outer shell (2 for Helium, 8 for all others), making them stable.

Name: Helium 
Symbol: He 
Atomic Number: 2 

Date of Discovery: 1895 

Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay 

Name Origin: From the Greek word hêlios (sun) 
Uses: balloons, deep sea diving 
Obtained From: natural gas deposit, air 

Name: Neon 
Symbol: Ne 
Atomic Number: 10 

Date of Discovery: 1898 
Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay 
Name Origin: Form the Greek word neos (new) 
Uses: lighting 
Obtained From: liquid air

Name: Argon 

Symbol: Ar 

Atomic Number: 18 

Date of Discovery: 1894 
Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay 
Name Origin: From the Greek word argon (inactive) 
Uses: Lighting 
Obtained From: air 

Name: Krypton 
Symbol: Kr 
Atomic Number: 36  

Date of Discovery: 1898 
Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay 
Name Origin: From the Greek word kryptos (hidden) 
Uses: Lighting 
Obtained From: production of liquid air 

Name: Xenon 
Symbol: Xe 
Atomic Number: 54 

Date of Discovery: 1898 

Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay 
Name Origin: From the Greek word xenon (stranger) 
Uses: powerful lamps, bubble chambers 
Obtained From: liquid air 

Name: Radon 
Symbol: Rn 
Atomic Number: 86 

Date of Discovery: 1898 

Discoverer: Fredrich Ernst Dorn 
Name Origin: From radium 
Uses: treatment of cancer 
Obtained From: decay of radium 

These gases are named 'Noble gases' because they are too 'noble' to need anything else from any other element.  Unlike other elements which need to stabilise their atoms with the help of other elements, these gases have a full outer shell making them chemically stable. 

Retrieved from:  www.chemicalelements.com