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54 Xe

Xenon

Noble Gas
Atomic Mass
131.293 u
Density
0.005894 g/cm³ (at 0 °C)
Melting Point
-111.7 °C
Boiling Point
-108.1 °C
State
Gas
Discovery
1898

Discovery

Xenon was discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers in London.

Common Uses

  • Used in some types of light sources, such as strobe lamps and bactericidal lamps.
  • Used in photographic flash lamps.
  • Used in some types of lasers.
  • Used in some medical imaging techniques.
  • Liquid xenon is used as a propellant for ion thrusters in spacecraft.

Interesting Facts

  • Xenon is a noble gas, meaning it is generally unreactive. However, it can form some compounds, especially with highly electronegative elements like fluorine.
  • It is one of the rarest gases in Earth's atmosphere.
  • The name "xenon" comes from the Greek word "xenos," meaning "stranger" or "foreign."
  • Xenon produces a beautiful blue glow when excited in a vacuum tube.
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