Oganesson (Og) is an element that falls under the category of noble gases, which are also known as group 18 elements. However, there has been some debate as to whether oganesson truly exhibits the properties of a noble gas. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has used the term “noble gas” interchangeably with “group 18” and has included oganesson in this group.
Noble gases are typically known for their low reactivity and stable electronic configurations. They exist as monatomic gases and have a full complement of electrons in their outermost energy level, making them highly stable and unreactive. This full outer electron shell, also known as a closed shell, is what gives them their noble characteristics.
However, oganesson, being a synthetic element, is quite different from the naturally occurring noble gases such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Oganesson is a highly radioactive element with a very short half-life, meaning it decays rapidly into other elements. This characteristic alone sets it apart from the stable and non-radioactive nature of traditional noble gases.
Furthermore, oganesson’s position on the periodic table introduces additional complexities. Oganesson is the heaviest element known to date and its electrons experience strong relativistic effects due to its high atomic number. Relativistic effects arise when the speed of an electron approaches the speed of light, causing changes in its behavior and energy levels. These relativistic effects can significantly influence an element’s chemical properties and are predicted to break the trend of noble gases’ low reactivity.
Theoretical calculations suggest that oganesson’s electrons experience such strong relativistic effects that its outermost energy level becomes destabilized, making it more prone to reacting with other elements. This would make oganesson less noble in terms of its chemical behavior, contrary to the typical characteristics of noble gases.
It is important to note that the experimental confirmation of oganesson’s chemical properties is extremely challenging due to its short half-life and the difficulty in producing sufficient quantities for detailed studies. As a result, our understanding of oganesson’s chemical behavior is still limited and subject to ongoing research.
While oganesson has been classified as a noble gas by IUPAC due to its position in group 18, there are indications that it may not exhibit the typical noble characteristics of low reactivity. Oganesson’s radioactive nature and the strong relativistic effects it experiences due to its heavy atomic weight are predicted to make it more reactive than other noble gases. However, further experimental studies are needed to confirm these predictions and provide a more comprehensive understanding of oganesson’s chemical behavior.