Which of the noble gas has highest polarizability

Options

A. He
B. Ne
C. Ar
D. Xe

Answer

To determine which noble gas has the highest polarizability, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Polarizability
Polarizability is defined as the ability of an atom or molecule to distort its electron cloud in response to an external electric field, resulting in the formation of an electric dipole moment.

**Hint:** Remember that polarizability is related to how easily the electron cloud can be distorted.

### Step 2: Relate Polarizability to Atomic Size
The polarizability of an atom is directly proportional to its size. As the size of the atom increases, the volume occupied by its electrons also increases, making it easier for the electron cloud to be distorted.

**Hint:** Think about how larger atoms have more electrons and a greater distance between the nucleus and the outermost electrons.

### Step 3: Identify the Noble Gases
The noble gases in question are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), and xenon (Xe).

**Hint:** List the noble gases in order of their atomic number to visualize their sizes.

### Step 4: Compare Sizes of Noble Gases
As we move down the group of noble gases in the periodic table:
- Helium is the smallest.
- Neon is larger than helium.
- Argon is larger than neon.
- Xenon is the largest among them.

**Hint:** Remember that with each step down the group, a new electron shell is added, increasing the size.

### Step 5: Determine Polarizability
Since polarizability increases with atomic size, the noble gas with the largest atomic size will have the highest polarizability. In this case, xenon (Xe) is the largest noble gas.

**Hint:** Focus on the trend that larger atoms have higher polarizability.

### Conclusion
Thus, the noble gas with the highest polarizability is **xenon (Xe)**.

**Final Answer:** Xenon has the highest polarizability among the noble gases.

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