Which statement best describes the chemical reactivity of argon among the noble gases?

• A. Argon is generally unreactive and rarely forms compounds, even under extreme conditions.
• B. Argon is highly reactive and forms several stable compounds under normal conditions.
• C. Argon is more reactive than xenon and krypton.
• D. Argon readily reacts with oxygen to form argon oxides at room temperature.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the position of argon in the periodic table. Argon is a noble gas located in Group 18, known for having a full valence shell of electrons, which generally makes these elements chemically inert.
2. Step 2: Recall the general chemical reactivity trend of noble gases. The reactivity decreases as you move up the group because the outer electrons are held more tightly, making it difficult to form compounds.
3. Step 3: Compare argon's reactivity with other noble gases like xenon and krypton. Xenon and krypton can form some compounds under specific conditions, but argon is much less reactive due to its smaller atomic size and higher ionization energy.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the given statements based on known chemical behavior. Argon rarely forms compounds, even under extreme conditions, and does not readily react with oxygen or other elements at room temperature.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description of argon's chemical reactivity is that it is generally unreactive and rarely forms compounds, even under extreme conditions.