Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: February 20, 2020
The inert pair effect on heavy noble gases: insights from radon tetroxide
Nuno A G Bandeira1, Joaquim Marçalo2
1BioISI, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal. nuno.bandeira@ciencias.ulisboa.pt.
Abstract:
A quantum chemical survey of radon and xenon tetroxides (NgO4, Ng = Xe, Rn) is reported herein. The intermediate species, which are formed in their explosive decomposition back to their elemental states (Ng and O2), were also studied and their energetics were compared. While Td symmetric RnO4 has a minimum energy structure, its standard enthalpy of formation is 88.6 kJ mol-1 higher than for XeO4. The reason for this higher instability lies in what is known as the inert pair effect. This work establishes that the high-valent chemical trends of the sixth period of groups 13-15 are indeed extended to group 18.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:54Noble Gases
The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name “noble” because they were assumed to be nonreactive since they have filled valence shells. In 1962, Dr. Neil Bartlett at the University of British Columbia proved this assumption to be false.
04:01VSEPR Theory and the Effect of Lone Pairs
03:02The Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule
02:55Exceptions to the Octet Rule
03:51Molecular Orbital Theory II
02:54Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions