Group VIIIA elements compounds

The Group VIIIA elements exist as gases consisting of uncombined atoms. For a long time these elements were thought to be chemically inert, because no compounds were known. Then, in the early 1960s several compounds of xenon were prepared. Now compounds are also known for krypton and radon. These elements are known as the noble gases because of their relative unreactivity. 

Fluorine is the most reactive nonmetallic element. It combines easily with almost every other element. Compounds of fluorine and the noble gases have even been made. The noble gases are the elements in Group 18 (VIIIA) of the periodic table. They are normally very unreactive. Fluorine also reacts with most compounds, often violendy. For example, when mixed with water, it reacts explosively. For these reasons, it must be handled with extreme care in the laboratory. 

In our discussions of bonding, we pointed out the relative stability of the electron configurations of the Group VIIIA noble gases. For many years, it was thought that because the atoms of these elements had completed octets, Ihe noble gases would be completely unreactive. Consequently, these elements were known as inert gases. Compounds of krypton, xenon, and radon have since been prepared, however, so (he term is not quite appropriate. 

Copper-catalysts promoted with i) other group VIA or VIIIA metals and ii) alcaline or alcaline earth elements (IA or IIA) are used for selective hydrogenation of various organic compounds (1). Moreover Cu(Co) Zn-Al catalysts were extensively studied for the synthesis of methanol and of light alcohols (2,3). More recently, due to the development of fine chemical processes, detailed studies of copper catalysts were carried out in order to show, like for noble metals, the effect of supports (SMSI), of promoters and of activation-on metal dispersion or reduction, on alloy formation... For example modified copper catalysts are known for their utilization in the dehydrogenation of esters (4-6), in the hydrolysis of nitriles (7), in the selective hydrogenation of nitriles (8), in the amination of alcohols (9)... 

The noble gases in Group 18 (VIIIA) are the only elements that exist as individual atoms in nature. They are extremely unreactive. They do not naturally form compounds with other atoms. (Scientists have manipulated several of these elements in the laboratory to make them react, however.) What is it about the noble gases that explains this behaviour ... 

Helium is a member of the noble gas family. The noble gases are the elements in Group 18 (VIIIA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how the elements are related to one another. The noble gases are also called the inert gases. Inert means that an element is not very active. It will not combine with other elements or compounds. In fact, no compounds of helium have ever been made. 

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