Noble Gases

Nobel gases are a group of six elements in group VIIIA of the periodic table; they are in the column farthest to the right. It is a collection of five elements: argon, helium, krypton, neon, radon, and xenon. Unlike most elements, the noble gases are monatomic, which means the element is a single atom instead of being in pairs or a combination. The atoms have stable configurations of electrons. In other words, under normal conditions they do not form compounds with other elements. They got there name "noble gases" because at first scientists thought that these elements were inert and didn't react to other elements. Then, in 1962, one of the "inert" gases called xenon was synthesized and created xenon tetrafluoride. Since these elements are not entirely inert they decided to refer to them as noble gases. I think this is interesting because the definition of noble is having a high or elevated character, and these elements, as a group are superior to the other elements because they don't bond with other elements as easily as others.

The noble gases are all colorless at normal room temperature and pressure unless they have electricity sent through them. All of the noble gases have low boiling points. In fact, helium has the lowest boiling point (-289.9 C) of any known substance. It doesn't even solidify unless it's under intense pressure! It is odorless, colorless and tasteless and is the second lightest element. Helium was the first element to be found in someplace other than earth! It was found in sunlight; in fact that's how it got its name. They named 1`it helium after the Greek god of the sun named Helios.

All of the elements that belong to the noble gas group are used in everyday life. Helium is used for oxygen by scuba divers. Neon is used in neon sign electrical discharge tubes. Argon and xenon are used in lamps. Radon, which is a radioactive noble gas, is used in the treatment of malignant growths. Even though all of the noble gases are colorless they are all used in "neon" lights because they light up when electricity passes though them.

In conclusion, noble gases are very unique because of there ability to stand by themselves and not bond with a lot of other elements. There uses for world today go from neon lights to providing oxygen for scuba divers and even to helping cancer patience. The noble gases are one of a kind.