Final answer:
The noble gases, including neon and xenon, are unreactive due to their stable electron configurations. Neon and xenon both have full outer shells, which makes them unreactive at room temperature and pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The noble gases, including neon and xenon, are known for their lack of reactivity. This is because they have a full outer shell of electrons, which makes them stable and unreactive. Neon, for example, has the electron configuration of 1s² 2s²2p6, which means it has a full outer shell and cannot incorporate any more electrons into its valence shell. Xenon, on the other hand, is the heaviest noble gas and has more inner-shell electrons than neon. However, like neon, it also has a full outer shell and is unreactive at room temperature and pressure.
Because of their stable electron configurations, noble gases do not readily give up or accept electrons, which are the basis of chemical reactions. This lack of reactivity is what allows neon and xenon to remain non-reactive gases that do not interact with other elements.