What are the characteristics of noble gases as elements?

Noble gases are inert, colourless, odourless, tasteless, and non-flammable gases found in group 18 of the periodic table.

Noble gases, also known as inert gases, are located in group 18 (VIII) of the periodic table. The group includes helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). These gases share several unique characteristics that set them apart from other elements.

One of the most significant characteristics of noble gases is their lack of reactivity. They are called 'noble' because, like nobility, they tend not to mix with the commoners. This is due to their full valence electron shells, which make them stable and not in need of gaining or losing electrons to achieve stability. This lack of reactivity makes them inert, meaning they do not readily form compounds with other elements.

Noble gases are also colourless, odourless, and tasteless. This means they are invisible to the naked eye, cannot be smelled, and have no taste. This makes them difficult to detect without special equipment. They are also non-flammable, which means they do not burn or support combustion. This property makes them useful in environments where a fire or explosion risk is present.

In terms of their physical state, noble gases are all gases at room temperature and pressure. They have low boiling and melting points, which are lower than those of any other group of elements. This is due to their weak forces of attraction between atoms, known as Van der Waals forces.

Lastly, noble gases have high ionisation energies because of their full electron shells. Ionisation energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom. The high ionisation energy of noble gases further contributes to their stability and lack of reactivity.