Question

select the correct answer. the periodic table houses noble gas elements in group 18. these elements are highly stable and rarely react with any other elements. what is one possible reason for the stability of the noble gas elements? a. they easily form covalent bonds. b. the compounds that they form with other elements are very unstable. c. their outermost shell has the maximum number of electrons that it can hold. d. they require less activation energy.

Explanation:

Noble gases (group 18 elements) are stable because their outermost electron shell is full (has the maximum number of electrons it can hold, following the octet or duet rule). Option A is wrong as they rarely form bonds. Option B is wrong as their compounds (when formed) are not unstable; in fact, they are stable but rare. Option D is wrong as they don't need to react (so activation energy for reactions is not a factor in their stability; their stability comes from a full valence shell). Option C correctly states the electron - shell configuration reason for their stability.

Answer:

C. Their outermost shell has the maximum number of electrons that it can hold.