Which group of metals are the LEAST reactive?
The noble gases, specifically helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn), are the least reactive group of elements.
The group of metals that are least reactive are known as the Noble Gases or Group 18 elements. These include helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). They are called noble gases because they have a full complement of valence electrons in their outermost energy level and are very stable. As a result, they have little tendency to gain or lose electrons and do not readily form compounds with other elements.
The least reactive group of metals is Group 18 of the periodic table, also known as the noble gases. These include helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn).
To determine the reactivity of a metal, we can look at its position in the periodic table. The noble gases are located in the far-right column of the periodic table, known as Group 18 or Group 0, depending on the classification system. They have a completely filled outermost electron shell, making them stable and unreactive.
This stability arises from the fact that noble gases have a full complement of valence electrons, which do not readily participate in chemical reactions. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom, and they determine the reactivity of an element.
In the case of noble gases, their outermost energy level is filled with electrons, so they have little tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons with other elements. Due to their low reactivity, noble gases are often used in applications where chemical stability is crucial, such as in lighting, cryogenics, and lasers.