Group 18 The Noble Gases

Page
1

Slide 1

The Noble Gases

Slide 2

Group 18—The Noble Gases

The Group18 elements are called the noble gases.

Representative Elements

2

This is because they rarely combine with other elements and are found only as uncombined elements in nature.

Their reactivity is very low.

Slide 3

Group 18—The Noble Gases

Helium is less dense than air, so it’s great for all kinds of balloons.

Representative Elements

2

Helium balloons lift instruments into the upper atmosphere to measure atmospheric conditions.

Slide 4

Group 18—The Noble Gases

Representative Elements

2

Slide 5

Uses for the Noble Gases

The “neon” lights you see in advertising signs can contain any of the noble gases, not just neon.

Representative Elements

2

Electricity is passed through the glass tubes that make up the sign.

Slide 6

Uses for the Noble Gases

Representative Elements

2

The electricity causes the gas to glow.

Each noble gas produces a unique color.

Helium glows yellow, neon glows red-orange, and argon produces a bluish-violet color.

Slide 7

Uses for the Noble Gases

Argon, the most abundant of the noble gases on Earth, was first found in 1894.

Representative Elements

2

Krypton is used with nitrogen in ordinary lightbulbs because these gases keep the glowing filament from burning out.

Krypton lights are used to illuminate landing strips at airports, and xenon is used in strobe lights and was once used in photographic flash cubes.

Slide 8

Uses for the Noble Gases

At the bottom of the group is radon, a radioactive gas produced naturally as uranium decays in rocks and soil.

Representative Elements

2

If radon seeps into a home, the gas can be harmful because it continues to emit radiation.

When people breathe the gas over a period of time, it can cause lung cancer.

Slide 9

Group 18/0 – The Noble gases

Some facts…

1) All of the noble gases have a full outer shell, so they are very _

2) They all have low melting and boiling points

3) They exist as single atoms rather then diatomic molecules

Helium is lighter then air and is used in balloons and airships (as well as for talking in a silly voice)