Xenon’s has an atomic weight 131.30 and an atomic number of 54. Xenon is one of the densest elements that are part of the noble gases. It is roughly five times denser than air; the density of Xenon is 5.8971 grams over a liter. It is odorless, has no color, and is tasteless like other monatomic molecules. Xenon’s melting point is -111.80o C and has a boiling point of -108.13o C. Because of certain properties, it cannot react well with other compounds. Until scientists experimented on Xenon recently, along with other nobles gases, scientists thought that the noble gases were inert gases.
Chemist Neil Bartlett discovered that Xenon could combine with Platinum hexafluoride to form Xenon hexafluoroplatinate, a yellowish orange solid compound. Because of Bartlett’s discovery, many scientists have been interested in finding new compounds that Xenon could combine with. Some of these compounds include Xenon Trioxide, Xenon Hexafluoride, Xenon Tertafluoride, Xenon Oxytetrafluoride, and Xenon Difluoride.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory reported that, if heated about 300- 400o C and at room temperature, Xenon reacts unequivocally with Fluoride. Of the noble gases Xenon along with Krypton are the only known noble gases to react with other elements to form compounds.
Companies that need to use Xenon for their products use fractional distillation to collect it because Xenon is most abundant in the air than in any other source known. Companies separate Xenon from the air in large air-separation plants. Xenon could also be accumulated from the gases released from nuclear reactors. The companies may use the Xenon for light bulbs that release a bright white light at extremely high speeds, so they can receive a better resolution for high speed objects in pictures.
Hospitals may use Xenon as an anesthetic during surgeries because it had worked very affectively and had no chance of igniting unlike ether, ethylene, or other ignitable anesthetics. When the Xenon was ended the patients awoke after about two minutes. It may also be use in x-rays to produce the hydrocarbon more clearly by injecting it into the skull before taking an x-ray. In addition, when air is used for a skull x-ray the patient may awake with long term headaches but when Xenon is used the patient awakes with little to no discomfort. The stream of necessary liquids like blood and air in the brain and in the lungs can be tracked and studied using the radioactive isotopes of Xenon.
The noble gas Xenon, as it may be found only in small amounts is a very unique element because of its physical properties. Many scientists today continue to study it because there is so much more to learn about it. Xenon is a very useful element to us today although it may be a very STRANGE element.
Bibliography
1. Newton, David E., ed. Chemical Elements: From Carbon to Krypton. Vol. 3. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group, 1999
2. Stwertka, Albert. A Guide to The Elements. Vol. 1. 2nd ed. New York City: Oxford University Press, 2002.
3. "Xenon." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 9th ed. 2002.
