group 18 - noble gases

Question

Xenon forms compounds because:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

For a long time, Noble gases were called 'inert'. However, **Xenon ($Xe$)** can form stable compounds (like $XeF_2, XeF_4$) for several reasons:
1. **Ionization Energy**: Xe has the lowest I.E. among noble gases (comparable to Oxygen), allowing it to lose/share electrons with highly electronegative atoms ($F$ or $O$).
2. **Atomic Size**: Large size means valence electrons are less tightly held by the nucleus.
3. **d-Orbitals**: The availability of empty **$5d$ orbitals** allows Xenon to promote its electrons and expand its octet to accommodate more than 8 valence electrons.

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group 18 - noble gases

Select the correct option: