Noble metal are covered by carbon monoxide very quickly. Metallic elements, including metalloids (metals usually considered noble bolded, predictions for superheavy elements italicised): The columns "group" and "period" denote its position in the periodic table, hence electronic configuration. The simplified "reaction"s, listed in the next column, can also be read in detail from the Pourbaix diagrams of the considered element in water. Finally the column "potential" indicates the electric potential of the element measured against a Standard hydrogen electrode. All missing elements in this table are either not metals or have a negative standard potential. Arsenic, antimony and tellurium are considered to
Arsenic pentachloride more stable and the instability of AsCl appears anomalous. The cause is believed to be due to incomplete shielding of the nucleus in the elements following the first transition series (i.e. gallium, germanium, arsenic, selenium, bromine, and krypton) which leads to stabilisation of their 4s electrons making them less available for bonding. This effect has been termed the d-block contraction and is similar to the f-block contraction normally termed the lanthanide contraction. Arsenic pentachloride Arsenic pentachloride is a chemical compound of arsenic and chlorine. This compound was first prepared in 1976 through the UV irradiation of arsenic trichloride, AsCl, in