Home > Encyclopedia of Science > Noble Gases

• Abundance and production
• Properties
• Uses

The noble gases are the six elements that make up Group 18 of the periodic table: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). At one time, this family of elements was also known as the rare gases. Their present name comes from the fact that the six gases are highly unreactive; they appear almost "noble"—above interacting with other members of the periodic table. This lack of reactivity has also led to a second name by which they are sometimes known—the inert gases. (Inert means inactive.)

Abundance and production

As their former name suggests, the noble gases are rather uncommon on Earth. Collectively, they make up about 1 percent of Earth's atmosphere. Most of the noble gases have been detected...