Group 0 Elements

• The group 0 elements are known as noble gases
• Group 0 elements are all inert, colourless gases
• Group 0 elements are called the noble gases and include elements such as helium, neon and argon
• They all have 8 electrons in their outer energy level, apart from helium which has two, giving them a full outer shell
• As their outer shell is energetically stable they don't need to give up or gain electrons to become more stable
• Noble gases exist as monatomic gases - single atoms not bonded to each other
• All elements in group 0 are colourless gases at room temperature
• As the noble gases are inert they're non-flammable
• The boiling points of the noble gases increase as you move down the group along with increasing relative atomic mass
• The increase in boiling point going down the group is due to an increase in the number of electrons in each atom leading to greater intermolecular forces between them which need to be overcome
• Example

  Neon is a gas at 25°C. Predict what state helium is at this temperature:

  Helium has a lower boiling point than neon as it is further up the group, so helium must also be a gas at 25°C
• Example

  Radon and krypton have boiling points of -62°C and -153°C respectively. Predict the boiling point of xenon.

  Xenon comes in between radon and krypton in the group so you can predict that its boiling point would be halfway between their boiling points:

  (-153) + (-62) = -215 -> -215 / 2 = -107.5 ≈ -108°C

  So, xenon should have a boiling point of about -108°C