Why do the noble gases hardly react with any other element?
ATheir nuclei are very heavy
BThey have no electrons left
CTheir energy levels are full
DThey carry a small charge
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Their energy levels are full
1. An atom is most stable, and therefore least reactive, when its orbitals are full.
2. The most stable configurations are the ones that have full energy levels.
3. These configurations occur in the noble gases.
4. With nothing to gain from sharing or exchanging electrons, they leave other atoms alone.
5. All other elements react in ways that move them towards a full outer level.
6. Noble gases do have electrons, plenty of them, so an empty atom is not the reason.
7. Nuclear mass has nothing to do with chemical reactivity, which depends on the valence electrons.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 10 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 4: The atom_
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