Xe
Xenon is a noble gas that can form chemical compounds, disproving the belief that noble gases are inert.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 131.29 u |
| Density | 0.005887 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 161.36 K |
| Boiling Point | 165.03 K |
| Appearance | Colorless gas, blue glow in discharge |
| State at Room Temp | Gas |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.6 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 1170.4 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | -77.0 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +2, +4, +6, +8 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6 |
| Atomic Radius | 108.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 140.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 216.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | William Ramsay, Morris Travers |
| Discovery Year | 1898 |
| Location | London, England |
| Named After | Greek 'xenon' meaning stranger or foreign |
About Xenon
Xenon is a dense, odorless noble gas found in trace amounts in the atmosphere. It was the first noble gas to form true chemical compounds in 1962. Despite its rarity, xenon has many applications.
Uses & Applications
Ion propulsion engines, high-intensity arc lamps, medical anesthesia, and HID xenon headlights.
Fun Fact
Xenon was the first noble gas proven to form compounds in 1962, shattering the assumption that noble gases never react.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 129 | 0.2644% | - | Yes |
| 131 | 0.2118% | - | Yes |
| 132 | 0.2689% | - | Yes |
| 134 | 0.1044% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6