How can Xenon and Krypton form compounds with Fluorine if they are inert gases?

1 Answer
anor277 · Truong-Son N.
Dec 12, 2016

Because #"inert gas"# is a misnomer.

Explanation:

The #"Noble Gases"# have a full valence electron shell, and they rarely form compounds with other elements.

However, with highly reactive elements, and fluorine and oxygen are the most reactive elements, a few of the #"Noble Gases"# can form isolable compounds, since their valence orbitals stick out far enough from the nucleus to allow sufficient reactivity.

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