Noble gases are unreactive due to their stable electron configuration from "summary" of The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction by Eric R. Scerri
The noble gases occupy the last column of the periodic table, known as Group 18 or Group 0. These elements are characterized by their extremely low reactivity, a property that distinguishes them from the other elements. This lack of reactivity can be attributed to the stable electron configuration that noble gases possess. The stable electron configuration of noble gases is achieved through having a full outer shell of electrons, typically eight electrons for most elements. This full outer shell satisfies the octet rule, a principle in chemistry that states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a full outer shell. Due to their full outer shell of electrons, noble gases do not readily form chemical bonds with other elements. This contrasts with many other elements, which tend to react with one another in order to achieve a more stable electron configuration. For example, metals tend to lose electrons to achieve a full outer shell, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons. In contrast, noble gases do not need to gain or lose electrons because they already have a full outer shell. The stability of noble gases is further reinforced by the fact that they have the highest ionization energies of all the elements. Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom, and the high ionization energies of noble gases make it difficult for them to lose electrons and form positive ions. Additionally, the electron affinities of noble gases are close to zero, meaning that they do not have a strong tendency to gain electrons and form negative ions. Overall, the combination of a full outer shell, high ionization energies, and low electron affinities contributes to the inert nature of noble gases.- The stability of noble gases due to their full outer shell of electrons is the key factor that underlies their lack of reactivity. This stable electron configuration prevents noble gases from readily forming chemical bonds with other elements, making them uniquely unreactive compared to the rest of the elements in the periodic table.
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