Why are the elements in family 18 called inert gasses?

Answer 1

They're usually referred to as group 8 rather than group 0, but -

these are the elements with complete outer shells of electrons.

There is no tendency to either donate nor receive electrons to complete a shell,

and thus are inert, or non-reactive, to chemical change.

Answer 2

It was believed that noble gases did not react with any element and hence were considered inert.

However, krypton or xenon reacts with highly electronegative elements like oxygen or fluorine to form compounds like XeF2, XeOF4, KrF2 etc. Hence now they are not considered inert elements

Answer 3

They are termed 'inert gases' because they are gases and don't easily react with other elements. The name 'Noble gases' probably has a similar meaning, in the nobility tends to remain separate from the commoners.

Answer 4

The elements in Family 18 are called inert gases because they are chemically non-reactive. This is due to their stable electron configuration with a full outer shell, making them unlikely to gain or lose electrons to form chemical bonds with other elements.

Answer 5

They are no longer called inert because people have been able to make chemical compounds with them. It is difficult to get them to react, but it is possible.

Answer 6

The gases now properly called the "noble gases" were called "inert gases" until about 1960, because up until then these gases had never been observed to form a chemical compound.

Answer 7

They aren't reactive since they have a full octet of electrons. They are stable.

Answer 8

They are called inert gases because they are nonreactive.

Answer 9

Because these elements are all gases and they do not readily react with other elements.