Occurrence and Uses of Noble Gases

Introduction:

The Group 18 of the modern periodic table comprises of Noble Gas elements. They are inert in nature and very rarely or in drastic conditions react with other elements. Hence, they are known as Noble gases or inert gases. It is now known, however, that many of these elements are abundant on Earth. The use of the term inert has the drawback that it indicates chemical passivity, suggesting that compounds of Group 18 cannot be formed, which is not true as in the recent chemical studies have found that they do form stable compounds. The Group 18 comprises of the following Noble Gases- Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe), Radon (Rn) and Oganesson (Og). All the Noble Gases have 8 electrons in their valence shell and hence they are reluctant to react with other elements.

Occurrence of Noble Gases:

Helium:

• Helium is believed to have been formed during the formation of universe.
• Most of the helium is formed by nuclear fusion in the sun.
• Though there is continuous creation of new helium; the abundance of helium is not sufficiently large on earth.

Uses:

• Use of helium in balloon, due to its low density.
• Helium is used for cooling super magnets.
• Helium is also used as a protective gas in production of silicon and germanium crystals.
• Helium is also used in gas chromatography
  
  

  Neon:

• Neon is produced by the fusion reaction taking place in stars.
• Its rare on Earth, like that of helium, is due to its relative lightness.
• Neon is monatomic, making it lighter than nitrogen and oxygen.

Uses:

• Neon is often used on billboards as it produces a reddish-orange colour. Some lights of different colours are sometimes called neon lights.
• Liquid neon acts as a good cryogenic coolant.
• Vacuum tubes require neon gas in preferential amount.
  

  Argon:

• Discovered by Sir William Ramsay and an English chemist, Lord Rayleigh in 1894
• In nature, argon is found in the Earth’s atmosphere, 94 ppm, and in igneous rocks, 0.04 ppm. The isotopes found in nature are 36Ar , 38Ar, 40Ar 

Uses:

• Due to its inertness, it is used in electric bulbs where it does not react with filament.
• It is widely used in welding and cutting.
• Low energy bulbs contain mercury and argon. When electric current pass it glows.
  

  Krypton:

• The profusion of krypton in the atmosphere is thought to be about 0.000108 to 0.000114 percent. The element is also formed in the Earth’s crust when uranium and other radioactive elements decay.

Uses:

• High-power, flashing airport runway lights
• Krypton-based bulbs serve as excellent white light source for photographic flashes in burst shot photography
• It is used in MRI/CT techniques.
  

  Xenon:

• The Earth’s atmosphere contains about 0.1 ppm of xenon. Studies designate that the atmosphere of Mars may comprise about the same quantity of xenon, perhaps 0.08 parts per million. The element is not identified to transpire in the Earth’s crust.

Uses:

• Xenon, an example of noble gas. Over the years, a number of appreciated uses for members of the noble gas class of elements have evolved. Xenon is no exclusion with a number of commercially viable uses.
• The production of xenon involves the fractional distillation of liquid air.
• Xenon when limited within a vacuum tube and subjected to an electrical charge exhibits a blue glow. This consequence finds a use in both antiseptic and stroboscopic lamps. Xenon lamps are of practice in the field of laser technology, where they are used to excite ruby lasers. Electron tube technology also includes the gas.
  

  Radon:

• Radon is present in measurable amounts in the atmosphere of earth. Hot water springs and geysers contain radon. But nowadays most of the radon is obtained through the radioactive decay chain of radium.
• Samples of radon are found from decaying Radium 226.

Uses:

• Changes in groundwater radon concentrations help in the forecast of seismic tensions.
• Radon is used X-ray and for industrial radiography.
• Radon is used for treating auto-immune diseases.

Conclusion:

The 7 elements of the periodic table which are inert in nature yet have served purpose in our day to day life. All the elements have their different uses and different applications in the life of mankind. The abundance of such noble gases have been proved beneficial for the industrial, domestic and economical purposes.