Final answer:
The noble gases exist in nature as monatomic gaseous atoms due to their full electron shells and chemical stability, unlike metals which have delocalized electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
In nature, the noble gases exist as monatomic gaseous atoms. This group of elements, found in Group 8A of the periodic table, is characterized by their lack of reactivity and their gaseous state at room temperature. While other nonmetal gases such as hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), fluorine (F2), and chlorine (Cl2) exist as diatomic molecules; noble gases like helium, neon, and argon are all monatomic. They do not form compounds easily due to their filled electron shells, which make them chemically stable. Unlike metals that display delocalization of electrons throughout the solid, these gaseous noble gases remain as singular atoms.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: In nature, the noble gases exist as c. monatomic gaseous atoms.