10072. Xenon

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7440-63-3

Description and references

Xe; at. wt 131.29; at. no. 54. Valences 2, 4, 6, 8. Group VIIIA(18), also known as Group 0. A noble gas characterized by an electronic structure in which the outer p subshell is entirely filled. Naturally occurring stable isotopes (mass numbers): 124 (0.10%); 126 (0.09%); 128 (1.91%); 129 (26.4%); 130 (4.1%); 131 (21.2%); 132 (26.9%); 134 (10.4%); 136 (8.9%); known artificial, radioactive isotopes: 110-123; 125; 127; 133; 135; 137-145. Discovered in the final residues obtained after evaporating liq air: Ramsay, Travers, Proc. Roy. Soc. 63 [A], 405 (1898). Occurs frequently in gases evolved from thermal springs; concentration in air: 0.087 ppm by vol. Obtained commercially from the atmosphere by distillation-liquefaction process. Extraction from liq air residues: Allen, Moore, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 53, 2512 (1931). Xenon platinum hexafluoride was the first reported xenon compound: N. Bartlett, Proc. Chem. Soc. London 1962, 218. Teratogenicity study: G. A. Lane et al., Science 210, 899 (1980). Review of biology, chemistry and anesthetic properties: R. M. Featherstone, C. A. Muelbaecher, Pharmacol. Rev. 15, 97 (1963). Review of diagnostic use of radioactive compds for pulmonary studies: F. Fazio, P. Wollman, Clin. Physiol. 1, 323 (1981); for cerebral blood flow: H. Yonas et al., Adv. Tech. Stand. Neurosurg. 15, 3 (1987). Reviews of chemistry and compds: Noble-Gas Compounds, H. H. Hyman, Ed. (Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, 1963) 404 pp; J. H. Holloway, Noble-Gas Chemistry (Methuen, London, 1968) 213 pp; Sladky, “Noble Gases” in MTP Int. Rev. Sci.: Inorg. Chem., Ser. One vol. 3, V. Gutman, Ed. (Butterworths, London, 1972) pp 1-52; Cockett, Smith, “The Monatomic Gases” in Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry vol. 1, J. C. Bailar, Jr. et al., Eds. (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1973) pp 139-211; Bartlett, Sladky, ibid. pp. 213-330; S.-C. Hwang, W. R. Weltmer, Jr. in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 13 (John Wiley & Sons, 4th ed., 1995) pp 1-38; G. J. Schrobilgen, J. M. Whalen, ibid. pp 38-53; Chemistry of the Elements N. N. Greenwood, A. Earnshaw, Eds. (Pergamon Press, New York, 1984) pp 1042-1059.

Properties

Colorless, odorless, tasteless, relatively inert, monatomic gas; will form compds with highly electronegative elements such as O, F, Cl. Non-flammable. Soly of gas in water (20°): 108.1 cm3/kg water. Triple point temp 161.35 K, press 81.66 kPa. Critical temp 289.74 K, critical press 5840 kPa, critical d 1100 kg/m3. Gas: d0 (101.3 kPa) 5.8971 kg/m3, d (normal bp) 11 kg/m3. Liquid: normal bp 108.13°, d (normal bp) 3057 kg/m3, d (triple pt) 3084 kg/m3, heat of vaporization (normal bp) 12.640 kJ/mol. Solid: d (triple pt) 3540 kg/m3, heat of vaporization (triple pt) 15.1 kJ/mol, heat of fusion (triple pt) 2.3 kJ/mol. Solid form exists as face-centered cubic crystals at normal pressure. Spectrum: Collie, Proc. Roy. Soc. 97 [A], 349 (1920). Emission spectra: T. Jacksier, R. M. Barnes, Appl. Spectrosc. 48, 65 (1994).

Derivative

Xenon-133.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 14932-42-4
Xeneisol Xe 133 (Mallinckrodt).

Derivative

Hydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 60212-94-4

Properties

Xe.xH2O, mp 24°, and a deuterate, Xe.6D2O, have been prepd: R. de Forcrand, Compt. Rend. 176, 355 (1923); 181, 15 (1925); Tamman, Krige, Z. Anorg. Chem. 146, 179 (1925).

Derivative

Xenon difluoride.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13709-36-9
F2Xe; mol wt 169.29.
F 22.44%, Xe 77.56%.

Description and references

Prepd from the elements: Weeks et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 84, 4612 (1962); Hoppe et al., Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 324, 214 (1963).

Properties

Colorless crystals; d 4.32. Triple pt. 129.03°: Schreiner et al., J. Phys. Chem. 72, 1162 (1968). Sublimes without decompn. Soly in water at 0°: 25 g/l.

Derivative

Xenon tetrafluoride.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13709-61-0
F4Xe; mol wt 207.29.
F 36.66%, Xe 63.34%.

Description and references

First prepd by direct combination of the elements at 6 atm and 400°: Claassen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 84, 3593 (1962).

Properties

Colorless crystals; d 4.04. Triple pt 117.10°: Schreiner et al., loc. cit. Sublimes without decompn. Hydrolyzes to form Xe, O2, HF and XeO3.

Derivative

Xenon hexafluoride.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13693-09-9
F6Xe; mol wt 245.28.
F 46.47%, Xe 53.53%.

Description and references

Laboratory prepn: Chernick et al., Inorg. Synth. 8, 258 (1966).

Properties

Colorless solid; greenish-yellow vapor; vapor press. about 30 mm at 25°. mp 49.48°; bp 75.57°; d24.4(solid) 3.411; d55.2(liq) 3.173: Schreiner et al., J. Chem. Phys. 51, 4838 (1969). Hydrolyzed by water to form XeOF4 and XeO3. More powerful oxidizing and fluorinating agent than XeF2 and XeF4. Cannot be stored in glass or quartz containers.

Derivative

Xenon trioxide.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13776-58-4
O3Xe; mol wt 179.29.
O 26.77%, Xe 73.23%.

Description and references

Prepn: Williamson, Koch, Science 139, 1046 (1963); Jaselskis et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 88, 2149 (1966).

Properties

Powerful explosive, formed when XeF4 and XeF6 are hydrolyzed. Colorless, hygroscopic solid; d 4.55. Aqueous solns, “xenic acid”, may be prepd in concns >2M.

Caution

Can act as a simple asphyxiant by displacing air. See: Matheson Gas Data Book (Matheson Co., Inc., 4th ed., East Rutherford, NJ, 1966) pp 499-500.

Use

Gas in lamps designed to resemble natural daylight; in lamps of extremely high brilliance. Isotopes in leak detection systems for nuclear reactors.

Therapeutic Category

Anesthetic (inhalation). Xenon133 as diagnostic aid (radioactive imaging agent).

Keywords

Anesthetic (Inhalation)

Xenon 133Xe: Diagnostic Aid (Radioactive Imaging Agent)