Gases which do not undergo chemical reactions (except the loss of electrons to become ionized).
Questions tagged [inert-gases]
43 questions
8
votes
1 answer
Why are noble gases used for lights?
I know that neon is used in advert signs due to its inertness. However, I am not entirely sure how the inertness is exploited. I think it is because Ne being inert means that after electricity frees an electron we can count on it returning to the…
Greg
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8
votes
2 answers
How were noble gases discovered?
Noble gases are chemically neutral. They don't react with anything.
So, how were they discovered?
Pratik Deoghare
- 5,665
6
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0 answers
Physical reason for Helium-hole?
I just found a "Helium-hole" from atmospheric data provided here.
I was actually looking for this, and the first search was immediately succesful, a hole was found from;
Time: $05.01.2002$, $05:00$ UTC
Place: 68 Latitude, 0 Longitude on $112-138$ km…
Jokela
- 2,517
4
votes
1 answer
How 'pure' is liquid nitrogen?
I've been doing an experiment using liquid nitrogen, and am aware that pouring it into different containers gives a chance for other gases to liquify and contaminate it; what's a good estimate for the amount of other gases in the flask in such a…
Harriet
- 59
4
votes
1 answer
Zeolite-based oxygen concentrators
I wonder, what is content of output of zeolite-based pressure swing adsorption oxygen concentrators (both oxygen output, and exhaust output)?
Yes, they can produce 95% oxygen.
But what's the remaining 5%? Is it just argon and other noble gases,…
BarsMonster
- 2,492
4
votes
1 answer
Neon lamp: minimal breakdown voltage
I am looking at this formula from wiki for breakdown voltage in gas discharge lamps, and I see its linear by length (d) (oops, I see it's divided by $ln$)
$$\frac{Bpd}{\mathrm{ln}\ Apd-\mathrm{ln}\ (1+\frac{1}{\gamma_\text{se}})}$$
Does that mean…
BarsMonster
- 2,492
4
votes
3 answers
Can any gas be liquidified by lowering the temperature?
Can any gas be liquidified by lowering the temperature? What happens with gases at absolute zero? Are there gases that remain gases at absolute zero? Do their molecules move at these temperatures? Does the gas acquire a crystallic structure at these…
Anixx
- 11,524
3
votes
1 answer
Why do real gases deviate from ideal behavior above the Boyle temperature?
My textbook says that Boyle temperature is the temperature at which a real gas shows maximum ideal gas behavior. Below the Boyle temperature, molecules come too close and intermolecular forces skew off its behavior. But what about above the Boyle…
Gerard
- 2,838
3
votes
1 answer
How to derive the two-term approximation for the Boltzmann equation?
Starting with the Boltzmann equation in terms of $f(t,\vec v,\vec x)$ or $f(t,\vec v)$
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann_equation
$$\left(\frac{\partial}{\partial t} + \vec{v} \, \nabla_\vec{x} + \frac{1}{m} \vec{F}\cdot \nabla_\vec{v}\right)…
Nikolaj-K
- 8,873
3
votes
2 answers
How to measure the atomic radius of a noble gas?
How exactly can you measure the atomic radius of a noble gas such as Neon or Helium accurately? Would liquefaction help?
I heard that noble gases are the only common elements which have not been measured accurately as they don't bond with anything.
AvZ
- 302
2
votes
2 answers
If you put a latex balloon in a vacuum, how much would it expand?
If you put a latex balloon in a vacuum, how much would it expand? And would it pop? Assume it doesn't leak.
EDIT:
Some numbers: Ambient pressure is 100 KPa, balloon is perfectly spherical with a diameter of 300 mm, deflated it has a diameter of…
Random832
- 364
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2
votes
3 answers
Potential vs Kinetic Energy of Particles in Gas
"In the gas phase, the molecules are freely moving particles traveling through space, where the kinetic energy associated with each particle is greater than the potential energy of intermolecular forces."
Qualitatively, this makes perfect sense. The…
David
- 283
2
votes
2 answers
Why do helium balloons deflate?
Helium balloons deflate–even when they are made from metal foil. How does this happen exactly? Is there any chance that quantum tunneling plays a role here?
The thought is that the helium atoms inside the balloon would have higher energy and smaller…
Lory
- 1,091
2
votes
1 answer
Gas Cylinder Life
Say I have a gas cylinder filled with nitrogen to some volume at some pressure. On that cylinder I have a regulator so that I get a steady pressure out. I wish to discharge the cylinder. How many hours until that cylinder is exhausted?
I would…
Jason
- 121
- 3
2
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Why completing an octet stabilises an atom, quantum mechanically?
They say that Neon $Ne$ is stable because it has 10 electrons and with 10 electrons it completes its octet and completing an octet decreases the potential energy of an atom to the minimum and a system loves to remain in the lowest energy as…
Aaryan Dewan
- 1,820