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Chemistry

Why Noble Gases Have Increasing Boiling Points Down the Group

Quick fact

The boiling point of helium is about 4.2 K, while radon’s is about 211 K. That is a fivefold increase in absolute temperature, even though all noble gases are nonpolar and unreactive.

Why this is interesting

Helium boils at -269°C, barely above absolute zero, while radon boils at -62°C — warm enough to be a liquid on a cold winter day. Why do these 'inert' gases have such different boiling points?