[deltaboss]

Ok, I am curious, recently on a quiz I had this question. I chose A. , it was wrong. I thought that chemical properties were defined by how one substance interacts with another. Euphorically the noble gasses were not to be completely inert, we know now this is not so. If an element was historically thought to be inert, then it would not interact with other substances, therefore have no chemical properties. Could someone please explain how a substance can have chemical properties if it is not reactive. 

The elements in the noble gas family were once thought to be totally unreactive. Therefore, they would have no chemical properties.
Select one:
A. True
B. False

I would appreciate any help, and would like to know how I might figure stuff out like this in the future. Thank You.

[fledarmus]

I suspect this is somewhat of a trick question. Chemical properties are descriptions of the reactivity of a material, and "non-reactive" is as good a description of a chemical property as "highly reactive". Noble gases have very important chemical properties - they are inert to almost all reaction conditions.

The only way for something to not have a chemical property would be for it not to be a chemical. Thoughts and heat, for example, do not have chemical properties. Anything which is matter will have chemical properties.

At least, that is the way I read the question. Ymmv.

[AWK]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas_compound

[ramboacid]

Also note how the way something was once thought of doesn't reflect its true properties. Fire used to be described by the outdated phlogiston theory, though that doesn't make it true.

[Borek]

I don't like the question. Answer depends on what someone means by "chemical properties", and there is no clear definition of the term, too much of a gray area.

That being said, I would follow fledarmus way of thinking and treat "non-reactive" as a chemical property.

[deltaboss]

Ok, so what my problem seems to be is my definition of a chemical property. I forgot that if something dosen't react that is also considered a chemical property. Thank You.