Which of the following noble gas does not form clathrate compound? — p Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Clathrates are compounds formed when noble gas atoms (the guest) are physically trapped inside the cavities of a host lattice (such as quinol or ice) during crystallization. Step 2: For stable clathrate formation, the size of the noble gas atom must be large enough to be held securely within the cavity. Larger gases like Ar, Kr, and Xe readily form clathrates. Step 3: Helium and Neon (Ne) have extremely small atomic sizes and weak polarizabilities, allowing them to easily escape through the lattice cavities. Thus, Neon does not form clathrates, matching option (b).