Stable Memes

Trying to ionize helium is like challenging the heavyweight champion of electron retention to a fight. That smug noble gas sits there with its perfect electron configuration (1s²), sipping its drink and saying "You call that an ionization energy? I've got 24.6 eV of 'nope' for you." Noble gases are the commitment-phobes of the periodic table - they've found their perfect electron arrangement and they're not sharing with ANYONE. Chemistry students have nightmares about this stuff. Trust me, I've seen grown PhD candidates weep trying to make helium react.