Noble gas compounds

Pauling pointed out that inert gas atoms grew less inert as their atomic number increased. Noble gases were traditionally considered inert until Bartlett found that platinum fluoride reacts with xenon. This breakthrough expanded the understanding of chemical bonding and reactivity.
 Neil Bartlett England 1962 Noble gas compounds

Pauling pointed out that inert gas atoms grew less inert as their atomic number increased. Noble gases were traditionally considered inert until Bartlett found that platinum fluoride reacts with xenon. This breakthrough expanded the understanding of chemical bonding and reactivity.