THE PERIODIC TABLE

The Periodic Table is a vital tool used by chemists to predict the way in which elements react during
chemical reactions. It is a method of classifying elements according to their properties.
It gives the names and symbols for the elements.The modern Periodic Table,was created in 1869
by the Russian chemist, Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev.He collected the elements together in a table
that revealed the periodic(repeating) pattern in their properties.In the periodic table, chemical
elements are arranged :
1. in order of increasing atomic number;
2. in relation to the electron configurations(electron structure) of elements;
3. in relation to the similarities in chemical properties of the elements.
Groups and Periods
Groups
The groups are the vertical columns of elements in the Periodic Table.There are eight (8) groups.All
groups are represented by Roman numerals from I to VIII.The group to which an element belongs
depends on the valence electrons of the element.Valence electrons are electrons that are found in
the outer shell of an atom. In other words,all the elements in a group have the same number of
electrons in their outer shell.Group I elements have 1 electron in the outer shell e.g.Lithium,
7 23 39
3Li(2,1),Sodium, 11Na(2,8,1),Potassium, 19K(2,8,8,1).Group VII elements have 7 electrons in the
outer shell e.g.Fluorine,199F(2,7),Chlorine,35.517Cl(2,8,7), Bromine,8035Br(2,8,18,7).Group VIII elements
have full outer shells e.g. Helium,42He(2), Neon, 2010Ne(2,8),Argon,4018Ar(2,8,8).Elements in the same
group have similar chemical properties( i.e.outer valence electrons determine the chemical
properties of an element).
Some of the groups have special names:
a) Group I is called the alkali metals.
b) Group II is called the alkaline earth metals.
c) Group VII is called the halogens.
d) Group VIII is called the noble gases
Periods
The periods are the horizontal rows of elements in the Periodic Table.There are seven periods.
Periods are numbered with ordinary numerals from 1 to 7.The first period contains two elements:
hydrogen, H and helium, He. Periods 2 and 3 each contain eight elements.They are called short
periods.Periods 4 and 5 each contain 18 elements.They are called long periods.
All the elements in a period have the same number of occupied electron shells.The elements in
period 1 have one shell,those in period 2 have two shells ,those in period 3 have three shells and so
on.
Classification of elements using the Periodic table.
Elements can be classified as metals, non metals and metalloids.The zigzag line in the Periodic table
through the groups separates the metals from the non metals. All the metals are on the left and all
non metals are found to the right.The metalloids are found on either side of the line.Metalloids are
elements that have properties of both metals and non metals.Metalloids include silicon,
germanium,arsenic,antimony,selenium and tellurium.
Groups and Periodic trends.
Group trends
Moving down a group, elements gain electron shells.This changes the size of the atoms which in
turn obviously affects both their physical and chemical properties.
Trends within Group I-the alkali metals
Atom Metal Reactivity Melts at...OC Boils at...OC melting and
7
3Li Lithium increases 181 1342 boiling
23
11Na Sodium as atoms get 98 883 points
39
19K potassium larger 63 760 decrease
85
37Rb Rubidium 39 686

As we go down Group I, reactivity increases while melting and boiling points decrease.
 Alkali metals react to lose an outer electron and obtain a full outer shell.The further the
electron is from the nucleus, the easier this is.So the bigger the atom, the more reactive
the metal will be.
 Meanwhile the melting and boiling points decrease because the attraction between the
atoms gets less strong as the atoms get larger.
The atomic radius increases down the group. As extra electron shells are added in passing down
group I, the outer electrons are further away and increasingly screened (shielded) from the positive
nucleus. As a result they are not held tightly and the atomic radius increases.
Going down the group, the first ionisation energy decreases. There is more shielding between the
nucleus and the outer electrons and the distance between the nucleus and the outer electron
increases and therefore the force of attraction between the nucleus and outer most electrons is
reduced.
Trends within Group II-the alkaline earth metals
Elements Melting point in OC Boiling point in OC
Beryllium 1278 2970
Magnesium 649 1107
Calcium 839 1484
Strontium 769 1384
Barium 725 1640

The trend is however not so smooth.Magnesium seems to be out of place for example.But the
overall trend is a decrease from top to bottom.
Why alkaline earth metals are less reactive
When group II metals react they have to give up two outer electrons to obtain a full outer
shell.This is more difficult than losing just one electron,so they are less reactive than group I
metals.But as the atoms get bigger it gets easier to lose the two electrons,so the metals get
more reactive as you go down the group.This was also the trend in group I.Groups I and II share
two trends:increasing reactivity down the group,and an overall decrease in melting and boiling
points as you go down the group.
 Group VII-The halogens
The Group VII elements include fluorine,Chlorine,bromine,iodine and astatine. Chlorine, bromine
and iodine are the most common halogens.
Trends within group VII
ATOM ELEMENT Reactivity Melts at...OC Boils at...OC melting and
19
9 F Fluorine(pale yellow gas) decreases -220 -188 boiling
35
17 Cl chlorine(green gas) as atoms get -101 -35 points
80
35Br bromine (red liquid) larger -7 59 increase
127
53I iodine (black solid) 114 184

 Melting and boiling points increase down the group because the attraction between
molecules increases .More energy is needed to help them escape from the solid to form
liquid, and from the liquid to form gas.
 Reactivity decreases down the group because of size.A halogen atom is able to attract an
extra electron into its outer shell because of the positive charge on the nucleus.(opposite
charges attract).But as the atoms get bigger,their outer shells get further away from the
nucleus.The force of attraction gets less.So the element gets less reactive.
Periodic trends.
The trend in reactivity across period 3
Group I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Element Sodium Magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulphur chlorine argon
Outer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
electrons
Element Metal Metal metal metalloid nonmetal nonmetal nonmetal nonmetal
is..
Reactivity High High high Low Low Low high unreactive
Melting 98 649 660 1410 590 119 -101 -189
O
point/ C
Boiling 883 1107 2467 2355 Ignites 445 -35 -186
point/OC
Oxide Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P2O5 SO3 Cl2O7 none
formed
Oxide is.. Basic Basic amphoteric Acidic Acidic acidic acidic -
If you look at the properties of the elements across a period of the Periodic Table you will notice certain
trends. For example, there is:
 an increase in the number of electrons in the outer energy level of the element. Moving across
the periodic table, elements gain electrons.The number of outer shell electrons increases by 1
each time-like the group number. By argon (group O), the shell is full.
 The physical properties of elements such as the melting point (m.p), boiling point (b.p) and
density vary as their atomic numbers (Z) increases across a period from left to right. The melting
and boiling points increase to the middle of the period, then decrease.They are lowest on the
right. However, there are some anomalies to this pattern, such as the high boiling points and
density of aluminium and the very low melting points of chlorine and argon (they are gases at
room temperature).
  the atomic radius decreases steadily as the atomic number increases from Group I to Group
VII.The steady increase in nuclear charge pulls all electrons closer to the nucleus.This is
because the nuclear charge becomes increasingly positive as the number of protons in the
nucleus increases.Although the number of electrons also increases,the outer electrons are all
in the same shell.This means that they are attracted more strongly to the nucleus,thus
reducing the atomic radius across a period.
 a gradual change from metal to non-metal.Silicon is in between, like a metal in some way and a
non metal in others.It is called a metalloid.
 all the elements except argon react with oxygen to form oxides.The ratio of oxygen atoms to
metal atoms in the oxides increases steadily across the period.
 the oxides on the left are basic which means they react with acids to form salts.Those on the
right are acidic-they react with alkalis to form salts.Aluminium oxide is in between-It reacts with
both acids and alkalis to form salts.It is called an amphoteric oxide.
The patterns seen across period 3 are seen across other periods too.This recurrence of the same pattern
is called periodicity.
Physical and chemical properties of elements
Group I-the alkali metals
Physical properties
The group I elements are highly reactive and do not occur in nature in their elemental form.The
first three elements of group I are lithium,sodium and potassium.All three:
 are soft metals that can be cut with a knife.
 are so light( low densities ),they float on water.
 are silvery and shiny when freshly cut,but quickly tarnish.
 have low melting and boiling points compared with other metals.
 they are all metals .
 they are all conductors of electricity and heat.
 they are ductile(drawn into wires) and malleable(bent or hammered into shape).
 All alkali metal compounds are soluble in water.
Chemical Properties
1. All the Group I metals are so reactive that they must be stored under oil to prevent reaction
with air or water.
 the alkali metals tarnish rapidly in air.
 they react vigorously with water at room temperature.The reactions are usually carried out
in a glass trough.Observations are:
i) the metal moves around and floats on the surface of the water.
ii) the reaction produces heat which causes the metal to melt as it reacts.
iii) bubbles of hydrogen gas are given off
iv) the metal rapidly disappears,forming a colourless solution of alkaline metal hydroxide.
The equation for the reaction with sodium is
2Na(s) + 2H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
Lithium floats and reacts steadily(less vigorously) with water and sodium reacts vigorously
with water. The exothermic reaction melts the metal and the hydrogen released causes it
shoots across the surface of the water.Potassium bursts (ignites) into flames(lilac) when in
contact with water forming potassium hydroxide and hydrogen.Rubdium and caesium
reacts explosively, shattering its glass container.
2. Alkali metals burn in air (oxygen) to form the metal oxides, metal peroxide and superoxides. For
example:
 Li(s) + O2(g) → Li2O(s)
 4Na(s) + O2(g) → 2Na2O(s) sodium oxide
 2Na(s) + O2(g) → Na2O2(s) sodium peroxide
 4K(s) + O2(g) → 2K2O(s) potassium oxide
 2K(s) + O2(g) → K2O2(s) potassium peroxide
 K(s) + O2(g) → KO2(s) potassium superoxide
Lithium burns brightly with crimson flame, sodium burns brightly with yellow flame and
potassium burns brightly with lilac flame.
NOTE:
i) All the Group I metals from sodium to caesium form peroxides.
ii) The Group I metals from potassium to caesium also form superoxides.
3. They burn quickly in chlorine with a bright flame.Potassium burns fastest and sodium
next.White solids are left behind.These solids are potassium, sodium and lithium chlorides.
Example: 2Na(s) + Cl2 (g) → 2NaCl(s)
4. The group I hydroxides and carbonates are both soluble and stable to heat: they melt at high
temperatures.Lithium hydroxide decomposes at around 650OC.
2LiOH(s) → Li2O(s) + H2O (g)
Sodium hydroxide is very soluble in water forming a strongly alkaline solution.The solid
hydroxide is stable to heat: it melts but does not decompose.
NaOH(s) →NaOH (l)
Sodium carbonate is soluble in water and stable to heat: it melts but does not decompose.
Na2CO3(s) → Na2CO3 (l)
Of the Group I carbonates, only lithium carbonate decomposes on heating, giving carbon dioxide
and lithium oxide:
Li2CO3(s) →CO2 (g) + Li2O(s)
However, sodium hydrogecarbonate, NaHCO3, is weakly alkaline in water.It decomposes when
heated:
2NaHCO3(s) →Na2CO3(s) + H2O (g) + CO2 (g)
5. The group I metal oxides are soluble in water.They do not simply dissolve in water,they react
with it.For example,sodium oxide reacts with water to form aqueous sodium hydroxide:
Na2O(s) + H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq)
Group I metal oxides are ionic, and it is the oxide ion that reacts to form the hydroxide ion:
O2-(s) +H2O (l) → 2OH-(aq)
The resulting solutions are strongly basic because they contain a high concentration of the
aqueous hydroxide ion.
6. All group I sulphates are soluble in water.

Group II-The alkaline earth metals

The group II metals include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium.The more
reactive elements strontium and barium must be stored under oil.The others are left in
air,because a layer of oxide forms on them and protects them.There are two electrons in the
valence shell,so the elements magnesium to barium form compounds containing the M 2+ ion.
Physical properties
 They are shiny and silvery-grey in colour when pure and clean.They tarnish quickly,when
left in air due to the formation of a metal oxide on their surfaces.
 They have higher densities than the alkali metals.
 They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
 Have higher melting and boiling points than their corresponding alkali metals.
 They are harder than those in group I.
Chemical Properties
 The alkaline earth metals tarnish in air forming a layer of oxide which protects them
from further attack.
 They burn in oxygen to form solid white oxides.For example:
2Mg(s) + O2 (g) → 2MgO(s)
 They react with water forming the hydroxides and hydrogen.
Ca(s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca (OH) 2(aq) + H2 (g)
The reaction between magnesium and water is slow.Magnesium reacts rapidly with
steam producing magnesium oxide and hydrogen.
Mg(s) + H2O (g) → MgO(s) + H2 (g)
 Alkaline earth metals react with acids to give a salt and hydrogen
Mg(s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
 The alkaline earth metals are good reducing agents.
(i) Magnesium burns in carbon dioxide reducing it to carbon:
2Mg(s) + CO2 (g) → 2MgO(s) + C(s)
ii) Magnesium powder reacts vigorously with lead (II) oxide reducing it to lead:
Mg(s) + PbO(s) →Pb(s) + MgO(s)
 Alkaline earth metals will displace metals lower in the reactivity series of metals from
solutions of their salts.E.g. magnesium displaces copper from a solution of
copper(II)sulphate:
Mg(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
 Alkaline earth metals react with halogens to form a salt (metal halide).
Mg(s) + Cl2 (g) → MgCl2(s)
 The carbonates and nitrates of the alkaline earth metals decompose when heated.The
carbonates breakdown to form the metal oxide and give off carbon dioxide gas.For
example:
MgCO3(s) → MgO(s) + CO2(g)
The temperature at which thermal decomposition takes place increases going down the
group II.
Beryllium carbonate is so unstable that it does not exist at room temperature.
 The group II nitrates also undergo thermal decomposition.For example:
2Ca(NO3)2(s) → 2CaO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
A brown gas is observed when a group II nitrate is heated.This is a toxic nitrogen
dioxide,NO2(nitrogen(IV)oxide).

 Group II metal hydroxides decompose to form corresponding oxide and water:

 Ca(OH)2(s) → CaO(s) + H2O(g)
Group II compounds are only slightly soluble or insoluble in water.E.g. Ca (OH) 2 slightly
soluble,CaCO3 insoluble and CaSO4 insoluble.
Group VI
The group VI elements are in order of increasing atomic number ,oxygen(O), sulfur(S),
selenium(Se), tellurium(Te) and polonium(Po).Oxygen and sulfur are non-metals,selenium and
tellurium are metalloids and polonium is a metal.Radioactive polonium has a simple cubic
structure which is unique among elements.
Group VII-The halogens
The Group VII elements are known as the halogens.The Group VII elements in order of
increasing proton number are fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I) and astatine (At)
that make up Group VII of the periodic table.The term halogen is derived from the Greek and
means” salt producing”. halo- ("salt") and -gen ("to produce /form").They have low melting and
boiling points,when solid they are brittle,and when liquid they are extremely poor conductors of
electricity.There is a single covalent bond between the two atoms in each molecule.
The halogens have generally greater chemical reactivity than other non-metals.Fluorine is the
most reactive of all the chemical elements.Fluorine is the most abundant of the halogens in
earth’s crust,but it is found combined with other elements in compound form.Fluorine is too
reactive to be used in schools. Chlorine, bromine and iodine are the most common
halogens.Astatine is radioactive.
Physical Properties
 Group VII elements are poisonous nonmetals
 At room temperature, they exist as diatomic molecules, that is molecules made up of
two atoms, F2,Cl2, Br2 and I2 –atomicity.The atomicity of an element is the number of
atoms in one of its molecules.The atomicity of the halogens is 2.
 They do not conduct electricity; they are insulators.
 When in the gas phase, chlorine, bromine and iodine have a rather similar pungent and
irritating smell.
 They have coloured vapours. The colours of the halogens get darker going down the
group.
Halogen Colour
Fluorine Pale yellow
Chlorine Green
Bromine Red-brown
Iodine Grey-black

 They show a gradual change from a gas through a liquid to a solid.The change in physical
state from gas to liquid to solid down the group indicates an increase in melting and
boiling points and density down the group(due to an increase in the strength of
intermolecular forces)

Halogen Physical state at room temperature

Fluorine Gas
Chlorine Gas
Bromine Liquid
Iodine Solid
Chemical properties
All halogens have seven electrons in the valence shell, so they show similar chemical properties.
They are reactive because their atoms are just one electron short of a full outer shell.The
halogen atoms need to gain an electron to achieve the stable electronic configuration of the
noble gas atoms.
 They react with metallic elements,with each of their atoms gaining an electron from a
metal atom to become ions with a 1- charge.For example:
Ca(s) + Cl2(g) → Ca2+ 2Cl-(s)
 Halogens react with metals to form metal halides.
2Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s)
 The halogens react with many non-metals,each halogen atom sharing a pair of electrons
with the other non-metal atom in a covalent bond,e.g. in hydrogen chloride,HCl
H2 (g) + Cl2(g) →2 HCl(g)
 The halogens react with hydrogen to form the hydrogen halides, which dissolve in water
to form acidic solutions.
H2(g) + Cl2(g) →2 HCl(g)
HCl(g) + H2O(l) → HCl(aq)
 Halogens undergo displacement reactions.A more reactive halogen can displace a less
reactive halogen from a halide solution of the less reactive halogen.
Examples:
When chlorine water,Cl2(aq),is added to a solution of sodium bromide,containing Br-(aq)
ions,the solution changes to a yellowish brown colour.The colour is caused by the
presence of dissolved bromine molecules,Br2(aq),as found in bromine water.The
displacement reaction that takes place is:
Cl2(aq) + 2NaBr(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + Br2(aq)
Ionic equation: Cl2(aq) + 2Br-(aq) → 2Cl-(aq) + Br2(aq)
Likewise,bromine will displace iodine from an iodide solution:
Br2(aq) + 2NaI(aq) → 2NaBr(aq) + I2(aq)
Ionic equation: Br2(aq) + 2I-(aq) → 2Br-(aq) + I2(aq)
 A halogen reacts with water to produce an acid.The solubility of the halogens in water
decreases down the group.Chlorine reacts in water forming a solution that is sometimes
called chlorine water-a mixture of hydrochloric acid and chloric(I) acid(hypochlorous
acid).
Cl2(g) + H2O(l) → HCl(aq) + HClO(aq)
Chloric(I) acid is the substance that gives a solution of chlorine its bleaching properties.
Bromine dissolves and reacts with water in a similar way,But to a lesser extent.
Iodine is almost insoluble in water but is soluble in potassium iodide solution because of
the formation of I3- ions:
I2(s) + I-(aq) →I3-(aq)
 Halogens are strong oxidizing agents and this is shown in the reactions with metals,with
non-metals and with iron(II) ions in solution.
Examples:
a) with metals
i) Mg(s) + Cl2(g) →MgCl2(s)
ii) Fe(s) + I2(s) →FeI2(s)
b) with non-metals
iii) H2(g) + Cl2(g) →2HCl(g)
c) with iron(II)chloride solution
 iv) 2FeCl2(aq) + Cl2(g) → 2FeCl3(aq)
Importance of Halogens
Halogens are important because they:
i) can kill bacteria:Adding a small amount of chlorine to water supply will kill bacteria and make
the water safer to drink.The chlorine undergoes disproportionation in water:
Cl2(aq) + H2O(l) → HCl(aq) + HClO(aq)
Oxidation number 0 -1 +1
of chlorine
HClO is called chloric(I) acid.It decomposes slowly in solution.It produces reactive oxygen atoms
that can kill bacteria in water:
HClO → HCl + [O]
ii) are bleaching agents:Chlorine is used to bleach wood pulp to make white paper.Bleach is an
equal mixture of sodium chloride(NaCl) and sodium chlorate(I)(NaClO),made from chlorine and
cold alkali.It ‘bleaches’ colours and stains because oxygen atoms from the chlorate(I) ions
oxidise dye and other coloured molecules.They also kill bacteria when toilets are cleaned with
bleach.
iii) are used to make photographic film when combined with silver to make silver halides.
iv) chlorine is used as a disinfectant and insecticide.
v) chlorine is used to make plastic polyvinyl chloride(PVC)
vi) chlorine is used to make solvents such as tetrachloroethane(for dry cleaning).
vii) bromine is used in making fuel additives and pesticides
viii) iodine is used in making printing inks,animal feeds and pharmaceuticals.
ix) iodine is used as an antiseptic.
x) small amounts of iodine are needed in our bodies to prevent the swelling of thyroid gland
xi) small amounts fluoride ions are added to tap water and toothpaste to prevent decay.
Harmful Effects of halides
Halides are the ion state of halogen.
That means halides are, Flouride (F-), Chloride (Cl-), Bromide (Br-) and Iodide (I-)
 Fluorine and chlorine vapours are extremely poisonous.Therefore; they have to be handled in the
fume cupboard.
 Liquid bromine is very corrosive and great care has to be taken to keep it off your skin.
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are used in air conditioning and refrigeration, in aerosols and as solvents
in the electronics industry.Because of their unreactivity, chlorofluorocarbons released into the
atmosphere do not decay, and find their way eventually into the upper atmosphere.CFCs that leak
into the atmosphere can react with ozone (O3), breaking it down to oxygen (O2).This causes holes in
the ozone layer.

Group VIII- the noble gases

When these elements were first added to the periodic table, they were called the inert gases and
labelled Group O.They were given this name because they appeared to react with no other element.The
name ‘noble gases’ has been chosen to replace ‘inert gases.’It is reminiscent of the name ‘noble
metals’(for metals such as gold and platinum that do not react readily).They are called noble gases
because the metals that do not tarnish-like gold and silver were called the noble metals.The ones that
easily rust or corrode were called base metals.This group contains the elements helium, neon, argon,
krypton and xenon.Radon is the radioactive element.

(He,Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn) exist in nature as single atoms. For this reason, they are
called monatomic (meaning a single atom) gases.
The Group VIII elements are inorder of increasing atomic number.These elements are all:
i) non metals
ii) colourless gases at room temperature(they occur naturally in air)
iii) monatomic-they exist as individual atoms because their atoms all have a full outer shell of
electrons and do not form covalent bonds with other Group VIII atoms to form diatomic molecules.
Physical Properties
The elements have similar properties because their atoms have full outer electron shells(a
complete octet) except Helium.As a result,they show a great reluctance to combine with any other
elements.The atoms do not interact to form molecules as in the case of O2,N2,H2 etc.They are
therefore the only gases that exist as separate atoms.A full outer electron shell makes an atom
unreactive.The noble gases are unreactive because their atoms already have full outer electron
shells.
The melting and boiling points of the noble gases are extremely low.The boiling points of the noble
gases increase as their atomic number increases down Group VIII.
As you go down Group VIII, the density of the gases increases.The density increases because the
mass of the atoms increases.
ELEMENT SYMBOL M.p./OC B.p./OC
Helium He -272 -269
Neon Ne -249 -246
Argon Ar -189 -186
Krypton Kr -157 -152
Xenon Xe -112 -108
Radon Rn -71 -62

Helium, neon and argon are inert; they do not form compounds.However, Xenon and to a much
lesser extent, krypton form compounds with the highly electronegative elements fluorine and
oxygen.Examples include XeF2, XeF4 and XeF6 together with XeO3 and XeOF2.Compounds of krypton
consists mainly of fluorine such as the colourless solid KrF2.
Helium is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air.Most commercial helium comes from
natural gas and petroleum.
Argon is the most abundant noble gas (≈ 1%) in the atmosphere.Argon (neon, krypton and xenon)
are separated from the atmosphere by fractional distillation of liquid air.
Radon is a radioactive alpha emitter formed from the radioactive decay of heavy nuclides such as
238
U.
Uses of the noble gases
Because they are unreactive, many of the inert gases are very useful:
1. Helium:
 to fill weather balloons and airships because it has very low density and not flammable.
 Mixing with oxygen (80% helium and 20% oxygen)to form a gas for divers to breathe.
The reason for this is that if a diver breathes normal air, nitrogen dissolves in the blood
and can cause a dangerous problem called nitrogen narcosis in which the diver has
symptoms similar to drunkenness.
 low temperature research because of its low boiling point.
 to inflate the tyres of large aircraft.
 as a coolant in nuclear reactors.
 to provide an inert atmosphere for welding
 in the helium – neon laser
2. Neon
 This is used in fluorescent lights.When an electric current is passed through neon,
it give off of a bright light(it glows red). The advertising signs in our towns are filled with
neon.
 in the helium-neon gas laser
 in Geiger – Muller tubes,which are used for the detection of radioactivity.
3. Argon
 to fill ordinary light bulbs to prevent the tungsten filament from reacting with oxygen
in the air and forming the oxide.
 to provide an inert atmosphere in the arc welding.
 in titanium production.
 in silicon and germanium zone refining.
4. Krypton
 in lamps used in photographic flash units
 in stroboscopic lamps
 in lamps used in lighthouses.
 Krypton is used in lasers,which produce very intense beams of light.Krypton lasers
are used in eye surgery,to prevent bleeding on your retina.The laser is directed to
the points where bleeding might occur.The intense light makes blood clot.
5. Xenon
 in fluorescent lights.This works like neon but the light is very bright and much like
daylight.Xenon lights are used in car headlights,but only more expensive cars because
xenon is expensive.Xenon strobe lights are used in discos.
NOTE:
Radon is an inert gas that is radioactive.It is slowly given off by certain rocks such as granite.
Houses built on granite can build up dangerous levels of radon in the room if they are not well
ventilated.If too much radon is breathed in,it can cause lung cancer.