Editorial Feature

Xenon (Xe) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Xenon

Updated by Reginald Davey 03/05/2023

Xenon (chemical formula: Xe) is a member of the noble gases family of elements. This article will provide an overview of this element, its discovery, occurrence, production, properties, and key uses of xenon.

xenon, properties of xenon

Image Credit: luchschenF/Shutterstock.com

Chemical Formula

Xe

Background

Xenon was discovered in 1898 by English chemist Morris Travers and Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay during the study of liquefied air. This element was first seen in the residue remaining after the fractional distillation of liquid air.

Travers and Ramsay had already extracted krypton, neon, and argon from liquid air. They developed a liquid-air machine that enhanced krypton extraction. Repeated distillation resulted in a surprising result: the production of a heavier isolated gas that glowed blue when examined in a vacuum tube.

Travers and Ramsay discovered that this was a gas that had not previously been observed and named it xenon after the Greek word meaning stranger, guest, or foreigner, xenos. Xenon is an extremely rare gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Generally unreactive, it can form chemicals such as xenon hexafluoroplatinate, which was the first synthetic noble gas compound, under specific reaction conditions. A major early use of xenon came in the 1930s with the invention of the xenon flash lamp by American engineer Harold Edgerton.

Basic Information

Name Xenon
Symbol Xe
Atomic number 54
Atomic weight 131.293
Standard state Gas at 298 K
CAS Registry ID 7440-63-3
Group in periodic table 18
Group name Noble gas
Period in periodic table 5
Block in periodic table p-block
Color Colorless
Classification Non-metallic
Melting point 161.36 K (-111.79°C or -169.22°F)
Boiling point 165.03 K (-108.12°C or -162.62°F)
Density 0.005887 g/cm3
Phase at room temperature Gas

Occurrence

Xenon does not occur in the earth’s crust, but the earth’s atmosphere contains about 0.1 part per million of xenon. Recent analysis indicates that the same amount of xenon is also present in the atmosphere of Mars.

Isotopes

Xenon has 36 isotopes whose half-lives are known, with mass numbers 110 to 145. Nine naturally occurring isotopes of xenon include xenon-124, xenon-126, xenon-128, xenon-129, xenon-130, xenon-131, xenon-132, xenon-134, and xenon-136.

Xenon - Periodic Table of Videos

Production

Xenon is produced from the residues of liquefied air via fractional distillation, as it was produced when first discovered. 

Applications

Today, there are many uses of xenon. Xenon flash lamps are used in stroboscopic lamps and photographic flashes. Lasers and bactericidal lamps make use of xenon. The first solid-state laser used a xenon flash lamp. Inertial confinement lasers use xenon flash lamps.

Xenon is used in solar simulators and digital film projection systems. It is also used in some night vision goggles. As a starter gas, it has found widespread application in automotive headlights and tactical flashlights.

High-pressure arc lamps use xenon to produce UV light. Xenon is also applied to road signs and markings to provide extra clarity.

Medical uses of xenon include general anaesthetics, although using xenon for this application is less cost-effective than conventional anaesthetics. It is also used as a neuroprotectant and cardioprotectant and is used in ischemic insults.

Xenon is also used during surgeries, in medical imaging, and in NMR spectroscopy. Xenon is used in bubble chamber, probes, and other areas in nuclear energy studies. Calorimeters used liquid xenon. It has also emerged as a preferred propellant in ion propulsion research for space travel.

A more controversial use of xenon is in sports doping. In response to recent doping scandals, the WADA added xenon to the list of prohibited methods and substances.

In Summary

There are many uses of xenon in several industries today. Its lack of reactivity with other elements and compounds makes it especially safe to use in the medical industry. An extremely rare element in the Earth’s atmosphere, it has nevertheless emerged as an extremely important element in modern society.

More from AZoM: How are Bioplastics Made?

References

 

Web Elements (website) Xenon: The Essentials [online] webelements.com. Available at:

http://www.webelements.com/xenon/

Chemistry Explained (website) Xenon [online] chemistryexplained.com Available at:

http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/T-Z/Xenon.html

Lenntech (website) Xenon – XE [online] lenntech.com. Available at:

http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/xe.htm

Chemicool (website) Xenon Element Facts [online] chemicool.com. Available at:

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/xenon.html

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

G.P. Thomas

Written by

G.P. Thomas

Gary graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class honours degree in Geochemistry and a Masters in Earth Sciences. After working in the Australian mining industry, Gary decided to hang up his geology boots and turn his hand to writing. When he isn't developing topical and informative content, Gary can usually be found playing his beloved guitar, or watching Aston Villa FC snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Thomas, G.P.. (2023, May 03). Xenon (Xe) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Xenon. AZoM. Retrieved on October 06, 2024 from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7944.

  • MLA

    Thomas, G.P.. "Xenon (Xe) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Xenon". AZoM. 06 October 2024. <https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7944>.

  • Chicago

    Thomas, G.P.. "Xenon (Xe) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Xenon". AZoM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7944. (accessed October 06, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Thomas, G.P.. 2023. Xenon (Xe) - Discovery, Occurrence, Production, Properties and Applications of Xenon. AZoM, viewed 06 October 2024, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7944.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.