Group 0 Practice Questions

Which property of helium, apart from it being inert, makes it suitable for filling an airship?

Put a cross ( ☒ ) in the box next to your answer.

☐ A helium is colourless

☐ B helium is less dense than air

☐ C helium has a high boiling point

☐ D helium is a non-metal

The first airships were filled with hydrogen. Several of them were destroyed by fire.

Give one reason, in terms of a property of helium, why a helium-filled airship is safer than a hydrogen-filled airship.

Argon gas is sealed inside tungsten filament light bulbs. The filament reaches a temperature of over 2000 °C but the argon does not react with it.

Figure 1 shows the electronic structure of an atom of argon.

Figure 1

Explain, using Figure 1, why argon does not react with the hot filament.

Describe the trend in boiling point of the noble gases on going down Group 0.

Predict the boiling point of xenon. Give a reason for your prediction.

Radon is the noble gas in the period below xenon.

Predict the density of radon.

The table shows three uses of noble gases.

Complete the table by giving the property of the noble gas that each use depends on.

Use of a noble gas	Property the use depends on
helium is used to lift weather instruments high into the atmosphere
argon is used as the atmosphere around the arc in a welding torch
a noble gas is released to put out a fire in a room full of electrical equipment

Calculate the mass of helium needed to fill the balloon.

A balloon filled with helium rises in air. An identical balloon filled with argon does not rise.

Explain why, using the data in the table.

Explain, in terms of electronic structure and physical properties, why helium is used in airships rather than hydrogen, and why argon is used around the hot metal during welding.

Use the information in the table in your answer.