What prompted Bartlett to the discovery of noble gases compounds ?

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Background on Noble Gases**: Noble gases are known for their lack of reactivity due to their complete valence electron shells. Traditionally, they were thought to be inert and incapable of forming compounds.

2. **Neil Bartlett's Experiment**: Neil Bartlett was a chemist who, in 1962, conducted an experiment involving the oxidation of oxygen in the presence of a compound called PTF6 (platinum hexafluoride). During this experiment, he prepared a red-colored compound.

3. **Ionization Energy Comparison**: Bartlett noticed that the ionization energy of oxygen (1175 kJ/mol) was very similar to that of xenon (1170 kJ/mol). This similarity in ionization energies suggested that if oxygen could form compounds, then perhaps xenon could as well.

4. **Attempt to Create Noble Gas Compounds**: Encouraged by this observation, Bartlett attempted to synthesize a compound involving xenon. He reacted xenon with PTF6, resulting in the formation of xenon hexafluoroplatinate (XePTF6) and other related compounds.

5. **Further Discoveries**: Following his initial success, Bartlett went on to prepare various other compounds of xenon, including oxides and fluorides, which opened the door to the study of noble gas chemistry.

### Conclusion:
Bartlett's discovery of noble gas compounds was prompted by his experimental findings with oxygen and PTF6, combined with the realization of the similarity in ionization energies between oxygen and xenon.

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