Xenon is a rare, gaseous element discovered in July 1898. It's symbol is Xe.
Xenon is a heavy (4.5 times heavier than air), unreactive stable gas occurring in air in trace percentages. It is one of the noble gases. Today, xenon is recovered on a commercial scale by the fractional distillation of liquid air. Natural xenon is a mixture of nine stable isotopes in the following percentages; xenon-124 (0.096); xenon-126 (0.090); xenon-128 (1.92); xenon-129 (26.44); xenon-130 (4.08); xenon-131 (21.18); xenon-132 (26.89) ; xenon-134 (10.44); and
xenon-136 (8.87).
The xenon found in some stony meteorites shows a large proportion of xenon-129, believed to be a product of radioactive decay of iodine-129, whose half-life is 17,000,000 years. Study of the xenon- 129 content of meteorites casts light on the history of the solar system. More than a dozen radioactive xenon isotopes produced by fission of uranium and other nuclear reactions are known. For example, xenon-135 (9.2-hour half-life) is produced by uraniumfission in nuclear reactors, where it is troublesome because it absorbs fission-producing neutrons. In 1962, a sample of xenon combined with an ion of platinum and fluorine to produce the first noble gas compound, previously the noble gases were thought to be inert. Now, xenon is known to combine with fluorine, oxygen, cesium, and alkali metals to form the corresponding fluorides, oxides and salts. All xenon compounds are toxic, although the gas itself is not.
Xenon has been used as an aesthetic, and is used as a tracer to measure lung capacity. It is the most popular gas used in strobe lamps and in high speed electronic flash bulbs used in photography. Electrical excitation of xenon atoms produces a brilliant white light. Some of its compounds have limited application as oxidizing agents. Xenon gas also has applications in modern nuclear power reactors. Research Xenon
The XE were a series of British midget submarines of 30 tons displacement in use during the Second World War. The XEs carried a crew of three and were powered by a Gardener engine and an electric motor providing a top speed of 6.5 knots surfaced and 6 knots submerged. Research XE
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Xenon
