Noble gas compound

Krypton_hydride_crystal

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Krypton_hydride_structure

Endohedral_fullerene

Noble gas compound

Noble gas compounds are chemical compounds that include at least one noble gas element. The noble gases, also known as inert gases, are a group of chemical elements with similar properties under standard conditions. They are all odorless, colorless, monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity. The noble gases include helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn).

History

The discovery of noble gas compounds challenged the long-held belief that noble gases were completely inert and unable to form compounds. The first noble gas compound, xenon hexafluoroplatinate, was synthesized in 1962 by Neil Bartlett, who demonstrated that xenon could react with platinum hexafluoride (PtF6).

Types of Noble Gas Compounds

Noble gas compounds can be classified based on the noble gas involved and the type of chemical bond formed. Some notable examples include:

Xenon Compounds

• Xenon hexafluoride (XeF6)
• Xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4)
• Xenon difluoride (XeF2)
• Xenon trioxide (XeO3)
• Xenon tetroxide (XeO4)

Krypton Compounds

• Krypton difluoride (KrF2)

Argon Compounds

• Argon fluorohydride (HArF)

Properties

Noble gas compounds exhibit a range of chemical and physical properties. For example, xenon fluorides are powerful oxidizing agents and can be used in various chemical reactions. The stability and reactivity of these compounds depend on the noble gas involved and the nature of the other elements in the compound.

Applications

Noble gas compounds have several applications in different fields:

• In chemistry, they are used as powerful oxidizing agents.
• In medicine, xenon compounds are used in anesthesia and imaging.
• In lighting, noble gas compounds are used in high-intensity discharge lamps.

See Also

• Noble gas
• Inert gas
• Chemical compound
• Oxidizing agent
• Anesthesia
• Imaging