Pronounced “ZEE-non,” Xenon is a noble gas and is odorless, colorless, tasteless and chemically non-reactive. While not toxic on its own, its compounds are strong oxidizing agents that are highly toxic. Xenon reacts with some elements to form new compounds.
Many compounds of xenon are created principally with fluorine or oxygen. Both oxides, xenon trioxide (XeO3) and xenon tetroxide (XeO4) are highly explosive. Some toxic compounds created with fluorine include difluoride, xenon deuterate, sodium perxenate, xenon hydrate, tetrafluoride and hexafluoride.
Xenon belongs to a noble gas group where elements are very unreactive.
This unique property of Xenon makes it peculiar, which is why it behaves differently.
Hence, this is the reason why it is known as stranger gas.
Xenon is 4.5times heavier than air. It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. Its atomic number is 54. Xenon is a trace gas. It is a component in gases released from a few mineral springs. Xenon is released as a by-product when the air is separated into nitrogen and oxygen. It is available in all forms that are solid, liquid, and gas.
Xenon gas is a trace gas present in the Earth’s atmosphere, constituting approximately one part in 20 million, making it exceptionally rare. Interestingly, it is also detected in Mars' atmosphere at a concentration of 0.08 ppm.
Commercially, xenon is obtained as a by-product of the air separation process, where air is fractionally distilled into oxygen and nitrogen. During this separation, the resulting liquid oxygen contains small amounts of krypton and xenon. Subsequently, the krypton/xenon mixture can be further distilled to separate krypton and xenon.
It is very unreactive. Xenon is used in certain specialised light sources. It produces a beautiful blue glow when excited by an electrical discharge. Xenon lamps have applications as high-speed electronic flash bulbs used by photographers, sunbed lamps and bactericidal lamps used in food preparation and processing.
Xenon gas finds primary use in light manufacturing. When exposed to an electrical discharge, xenon emits a blue or lavender glow. Lamps utilizing xenon provide superior illumination compared to conventional lights. Various applications benefit from xenon, including stroboscopic lamps, photographic flash lamps, high-intensity arc lamps for motion picture projection, some deep-sea observation lamps, bactericidal lamps, sunbed lamps, and high-pressure arc lamps. Xenon lamps are commonly found in vehicle headlights emitting a soft blue glow.
In medicine, xenon gas serves as a general anesthetic and in medical imaging procedures.
Industrially, xenon gas is employed in nuclear energy plants and for filling television and radio tubes. Silicon microprocessors are etched using xenon difluoride. Xenon ion propulsion systems are integral for maintaining the orbit of satellites and other spacecraft.
Inhalation: This gas is inert and is classified as a simple asphyxiate. Inhalation in excessive concentrations can result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. Death may result from errors in judgment, confusion, or loss of consciousness which prevent self-rescue. At low oxygen concentrations, unconsciousness and death may occur in seconds without warning.
