Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the chemical reactivity of argon among the noble gases?
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals
Noble Gas Compounds
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Why are noble gases generally considered chemically inert?
A
They have unpaired electrons in their outermost shell, which prevents bonding.
B
They have completely filled valence electron shells, making them stable and unlikely to react.
C
They possess high electronegativity, causing them to repel other atoms.
D
They have low ionization energies, allowing them to easily lose electrons.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the electronic configuration of noble gases. Noble gases have completely filled valence electron shells, meaning their outermost energy level is full of electrons.
Step 2: Recognize that atoms tend to react to achieve a full valence shell, which is a stable electronic arrangement. Since noble gases already have this stable configuration, they have little tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons.
Step 3: Note that having unpaired electrons typically makes atoms more reactive because they seek to pair those electrons through bonding. Noble gases lack unpaired electrons, which contributes to their lack of reactivity.
Step 4: Consider ionization energy and electronegativity. Noble gases have high ionization energies (not low), meaning it is difficult to remove electrons, and their electronegativity does not cause repulsion but rather reflects their stable electron configuration.
Step 5: Conclude that the chemical inertness of noble gases is primarily due to their completely filled valence shells, which make them energetically stable and unlikely to participate in chemical reactions.
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