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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. Liquid Argon
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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.
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.
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 is produced from the residues of liquefied air via fractional distillation, as it was produced when first discovered.
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.
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.
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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/TZ/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
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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.
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