Xenon
Element #54
Xenon
Xenon is the 54th element on the periodic table of the elements and also is one of the Noble gases. Xenon was discovered in 1898 by Ramsay and Travers in England. They gave the name Xenon which comes from xenos meaning strange, because of the weird properties it has for a noble gas that other noble gases don't have.
Properties of Xenon
Atomic number - 54
Average atomic mass - 131.294
Electron configuration - Kr4d105s2p6
Freezing point - 161.4 K
Boiling point - 165.1 K
Heat of fusion - 2.313 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization - 12.640 kJ/mol
Oxidation states - 0,2,4,6
Density - 5.89 g/ml
Electronegativity - 2.6
Most stable/abundant isotope - 132Xe
Ionic radius - 220
First ionization energy - 1170 kJ/mol
Specific heat at 25 degrees Celsius - 20.786 J/mol x K
Abundance in crustal rocks - 0.000002
Half-life of longest-lived radioactive isotope - 36.3 days
Longest-lived radioactive isotope - 127Xe
Common use of Xenon
Xenon a noble gas
Other information
Xenon is a strange noble gas considering that it has electronegativity and has 4 oxidation states. Xenon is a rare, odorless, colorless, tasteless, chemically unreactive gas just like some noble gases. Xenon is a trace gas in the Earth's atmosphere, occurring in 1 part in 20 million. For many years, xenon was thought to be completely inactive. Then, in 1962, English chemist Neil Bartlett made xenon platinofluoride (XePtF 6 ). This inspired chemists to try and make other compounds with Xenon on which they did.