inert gas (noble gas, rare gas)

Introduction

The 6 noble gases:

• helium (He) [atomic number 2]
• neon (Ne) [atomic number 10]
• argon (Ar) [atomic number 18]
• krypton (Kr) [atomic number 36]
• xenon (Xe) [atomic number 54]
• radon (Ra) [atomic number 86]

are found on the right hand side of the periodic table.

These elements are very stable as monoatomic gases because of a filled outer shell of electrons, thus an oxidation # of 0.

Until the 1960s, the noble gases were through to be inert.

More general terms

• chemical element

More specific terms

• argon [Ar]
• helium [He]
• krypton [Kr]
• neon [Ne]
• radon [Rn]
• xenon [Xe]

Additional terms

• periodic table