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General Science • ChemistryMedium

What is the primary reason why noble gases such as helium, neon, and argon exhibit extremely low chemical reactivity under standard conditions?

A. They possess completely filled valence electron shells conferring high electronic stability✓ Correct Answer
B. They exist exclusively as monatomic gases with zero kinetic energy at room temperature
C. Their atomic masses are too small to form stable covalent chemical bonds
D. They possess strong positive nuclear charges that repel all approaching reagents

💡 Solution & Explanation

Noble gases have stable electronic configurations with completely filled outermost valence shells, usually eight electrons except helium which has two, making them chemically inert. They can participate in forced chemical reactions under extreme pressures and temperatures with highly electronegative elements like fluorine. Dmitri Mendeleev left vacant spaces for undiscovered noble gases in his original periodic table.

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