Xe
Xenon
Element 54 · Noble gas
Xenon (Xe)
Xenon is a heavy, rare noble gas. In 1962 it became the first noble gas shown to form a chemical compound.
- Noble gas
- Period 5
- Group 18
- p-block
- gas at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 131.29
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
- Melting point
- -111.8 °C
- 161.36 K
- Boiling point
- -108.1 °C
- 165.03 K
- Density
- 5.887 g/L
- Electronegativity
- 2.6
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 216 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 12.13 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about xenon
- 01
Neil Bartlett’s xenon hexafluoroplatinate overturned the idea that noble gases never react.
- 02
Xenon is used as a general anaesthetic.
- 03
NASA ion thrusters accelerate xenon ions to propel spacecraft.
Applications
What is xenon used for?
- Car headlights and cinema projectors
- Ion thrusters
- Anaesthesia
- Dark-matter detectors
History
Discovery & name origin
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 54
- Atomic mass
- 131.29 u
- Group
- 18
- Period
- 5
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 18, 8
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.6
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 216 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 7
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (0).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st1,170.4
- 2nd2,046.4
- 3rd3,099.4
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Gas
- Melting point
- 161.36 K · -111.8 °C · -169.2 °F
- Boiling point
- 165.03 K · -108.1 °C · -162.6 °F
- Density
- 5.887 g/L
- Molar heat capacity
- —
- Appearance
- Colourless gas, exhibiting a blue glow when placed in a high voltage electric field
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Xenon questions
What is Xe on the periodic table?
Xe is the symbol for xenon, element 54 on the periodic table. It sits in group 18, period 5, in the noble gas category, and has an atomic mass of 131.29.
What is the atomic number of xenon?
Xenon has atomic number 54, so every xenon atom has 54 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Xe and its atomic mass is 131.29.
Who discovered xenon?
Xenon was discovered by William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898 (England). The name comes from Greek xenos, “stranger”.
What is xenon used for?
Xenon is used for: car headlights and cinema projectors; ion thrusters; anaesthesia; dark-matter detectors.
Is xenon a metal?
No. Xenon is classed as a noble gas.
What is the electron configuration of xenon?
The electron configuration of xenon is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6. Its 54 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 8.