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1.5.5 - Xenon Xe

Xenon is a gaseous mono-atomic element and is heavier than air. The rare gas is colourless and non toxic. Xenon has a suffocating and, when mixed with oxygen, an anaesthetising effect. In former times, xenon was regarded as a zerovalent inert rare gas but genuine rare gas combinations are known nowadays, in which it appears in differing stages of oxidation. Xenon is obtained from air together with krypton, for which purpose more than 10 million m3 of air have to be dissociated in order that one m3 of xenon may be obtained. The many possibilities of usefully applying xenon are handicapped by the high price. For instance, a mixture of xenon with 20% oxygen could be used for narcosis during operation. Light bulbs filled with krypton/xenon could be heated to a higher temperature compared with those filled with argon, and this would improve the yield of white light.