Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Helium, neon and argon rarely react because their electron shells are complete. The figure is taken from Royal Society of Chemistry, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a science fact?

Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Noble gases have full outer electron shells

Helium, neon and argon rarely react because their electron shells are complete Group 18 elements hold the maximum number of electrons their outer shell can take, so they have little tendency to gain or lose any. That makes them inert enough to fill light bulbs and shield welding arcs. Radon is also a noble gas, but it is radioactive and decays quickly. It sits in Mondo's science collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Royal Society of Chemistry

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Tags: chemistry, elements, gases

Noble gases have full outer electron shells: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Helium, neon and argon rarely react because their electron shells are complete. The figure is taken from Royal Society of Chemistry, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a science fact?: Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.