If the outer shell is full of eight electrons it is very hard to either remove on or add one or even share so such an element is called "noble". Neon, Argon etc have full outer shells with eight.
The innermost shell only holds two electrons so Helium is usually also called a noble gas because it is not reactive for the same reason of a full outer electron shell.
Which of the statements correctly describes the reactivity of noble gases, according to the octet rule?
They have eight electrons in their valence shell, so noble gases are very unreactive.
They have eight electrons in their valence shell, so noble gases are very reactive.
They have one electron in their valence shell, so noble gases are very reactive.
They have one electron in their valence shell, so noble gases are very unreactive
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I agree; however, look at Damon's answer and note that He is a noble gas, too, but doesn't have eight electrons in the outside shell. Also, note that some of the noble gases do form compounds
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