Chemistry of the Noble Gases*
CHEMISTRY OF THE NOBLE GASES* By Professor K. K. GREE~woon , :.\I.Sc., sc.D .. r".lU.C. University of N ewca.stle 1tpon Tyne The inert gases, or noble gases as they are elements were unsuccessful, and for over now more appropriately called, are a remark 60 years they epitomized chemical inertness. able group of elements. The lightest, helium, Indeed, their electron configuration, s2p6, was recognized in the gases of the sun before became known as 'the stable octet,' and this it was isolated on ea.rth as its name (i]A.tos) fotmed the basis of the fit·st electronic theory implies. The first inert gas was isolated in of valency in 1916. Despite this, many 1895 by Ramsay and Rayleigh; it was named people felt that it should be possible to induce argon (apy6s, inert) and occurs to the extent the inert gases to form compounds, and many of 0·93% in the earth's atmosphere. The of the early experiments directed to this end other gases were all isolated before the turn have recently been reviewed.l of the century and were named neon (v€ov, There were several reasons why chemists new), krypton (KpVn'TOV, hidden), xenon believed that the inert gases might form ~€vov, stmnger) and radon (radioactive chemical compounds under the correct con emanation). Though they occur much less ditions. For example, the ionization poten abundantly than argon they cannot strictly tial of xenon is actually lower than those of be called rare gases; this can be illustrated hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fl uorine and by calculating the volumes occupied a.t s.t.p.
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