Which of the following noble gases does not form clathrate compounds?

Options

A. `Ar`
B. `Kr`
C. `Ne`
D. `Xe`

Answer

3

Explanation

If an aqueous solution of quinol (`1,4`-dihydroxybenzen) is crystallized under a pressure of `10-40` atmospheres of `Ar, Kr` or `Xe`, the gas becomes trapped in cavities of about `4 Å` diameter in the `beta`-quinol structure.
Compounds formed when noble gases get trapped in the cavities of crystal lattices of certain organic and inorganic compounds are known as clathrates, No bonds are formed between the host molecules and guest molecules (noble gases ) in clathrates. Clathrates are not ture chemical compoundsas as they are not formed by the action of valence bonds, but by 'molecular imprisonment,' the combined molecules being held together mechanically byvirtue of their configuration in space.
Thus when the clatherate mentioned above is dissolved, the hydrogen bonded arrangement of `beta`-quinol bearks down and the noble gas escapes. Other small molecules like `O_(2), SO_(2), H_(2)S, MeCN` and `MeOH` form clathrates like the noble gases `Ar, Kr`,and `Xe`. However, the smaller noble gases `He` and `Ne` do not form clathrate compounds because the noble gas atoms are small enough to escape from the cavities.
Clatharates provide a convenient means of stroring radioactive isotopes of `Kr` and `Xe` produced in nuclear reactors.