Final answer:
Xenon is classified as a noble gas and is part of group 18 in the periodic table. Despite being historically considered nonreactive due to filled valence shells, it forms stable compounds with fluorine, such as xenon difluoride (XeF2). Noble gases like xenon have practical uses in creating inert atmospheres and lighting systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Xenon is found in group 18 of the periodic table, which is characterized by the noble gases such as helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), and radon (Rn). Although these elements were once thought to be completely nonreactive due to their filled valence shells, it was discovered in 1962 by Dr. Neil Bartlett that they can indeed form compounds under certain conditions. Xenon in particular reacts with fluorine to create compounds like xenon difluoride (XeF2), xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4), and xenon hexafluoride (XeF6).
The creation of these xenon compounds disproved the assumption that noble gases are entirely inert. Instead, these compounds illustrate that even elements with stable electron configurations can participate in chemical reactions when exposed to the right substances and conditions.
Nobel gases are commonly used for creating inert atmospheres for chemical reactions and in various forms of lighting due to their nonreactive nature.