Since Helium doesn't react with any other substance does it have any chemical properties?

Answer 1

First of, a trivia to share. We know that Helium is under the inert gases group or sometimes called the noble gas group. The reason why it's called an inert gas is because, on normal conditions, it does not generally react with any substance, hence it is inert. But why is it called a noble gas? The reason lies in the history of noble families in medieval times. Noble families at those times generally tend not to mingle with "common" people. They wish not to interact with the common people.

Now for the question..as for the person who said it's odorless, colorless, and tasteless, I don't think those are chemical properties. Those characteristics you mentioned are under physical properties of chemical elements. I'm not even sure if Helium is really odorless, colorless and tasteless [I'd still need to check that out].

Chemical properties of elements has something to do with their electronic configuration [i.e the number of electrons in the atom's energy levels]. Such electronic configurations determine the reactivity of that element with other elements/compunds. Helium has a complete octet, meaning it's outer most energy levels has a complete set of electrons. Elements genereally react in order to complete or stabilize their energy levels. They do this by attracting or sharing electrons in chemical reactions. Since Helium has a complete number of valence [outermost energy level] electrons, it would tend not to react with other chemicals because it is already stable. Reacting with other chemicals would entail that it losses electrons. Of course Helium would normally not prefer to do that because that would only make it unstable. However under extreme conditions [e.g. high temperatures and high pressures], chemical reactions between indert gases and other elements/compounds is plausible.

Hope this helps. =)

Answer 2

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RE:
Since Helium doesn't react with any other substance does it have any chemical properties?

Answer 3

Chemical properties are associated with all element,also with helium.
1.helium is noble in nature.
2.in normal conditions it does react with other substances due very less affinity for them.
3.it is also emitted as a nuclear by product while alpha ray emit ions.
etc.

Answer 4

I think you could safely say that it's colorless, oderless, tasteless and non toxic. However it is suffocating if present in large enough quantities. Saying that is has no chemical properties would be incorrect because i just listed 4 of them. It would be like saying a sunny day with no clouds or wind would be like having day with no weather.

Answer 5

I was going to say that, "He has no chemical properties."

and

"but It does have physical properties."

But, then I started thinking that He does have an ionization energy. I would say that is a chemical property, rather than a phyiscal one, b/c it's the properties of the electrons of the atom.

Sometimes the line is blurred by the distinction between those physical and chemical properties, so it depends on your definition.

Answer 6

It does have a chemical property. It does not react with anything. That is a propoerty.

Answer 7

I would agree with surveyor, but add this because it is inert it can be used to improve/control the chemical reactions of more dangerous elemental combinations.

Answer 8

It's one of the "inert gasses". Without extreme heat, It won't bond with any other element.

Answer 9

no