Xenon (Xe)
"The Stranger, a mysterious hero who can power intensely bright lights and even act as an anesthetic."
A memorable persona to anchor Xe in your mind.
5.894
Grams per cm³
-111.75
Celsius (°C)
216
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Xenon is found in the bright white light of a high-end car�s headlight.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1898
Discovered By
William Ramsay & Morris Travers
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Greek ''xenos'' meaning stranger."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
131.293 u
Standard State
gas
Boiling Point
-108.099°C
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d105s25p6
1st Ionization Energy
12.13 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Xenon is a heavy, colorless, odorless noble gas."
Did You Know?
Its name comes from the Greek word 'xenos', which means 'stranger', 'foreigner' or 'guest'.
It was the first noble gas that was coaxed into forming a true chemical compound (xenon hexafluoroplatinate) in 1962, shattering the idea that noble gases were completely inert.
Xenon is used in high-intensity lamps for car headlights, movie projectors, and stadium lights because it produces a brilliant, white light that is very similar to natural daylight.
It can be used as a general anesthetic, although it is very expensive.