About

Xenon is a heavy, colorless, odorless noble gas that is generally unreactive. It is used in specialized light sources that produce a bright, white light similar to daylight, such as photographic flashes, movie projectors, and high-intensity discharge (HID) car headlamps. It is also used as a general anesthetic and as a propellant in ion thrusters for spacecraft.

Atomic Properties

Atomic Number54

Atomic Weight131.293 u

Neutrons (common)77

Electron Configuration[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶

Full Configuration1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶

Electrons per Shell2, 8, 18, 18, 8

Electronegativity2.6

Electron Affinity-77 kJ/mol

Oxidation States+8, +6, +4, +2

Covalent Radius130 pm

Van der Waals Radius216 pm

Periodic Table Position

Group18

Period5

BlockP

Chemical SeriesNoble gases

Physical Properties

State at STPgas

Appearancecolorless, odorless gas, emits a blue-violet glow in an electric field

Crystal Structurefcc

Magnetic Orderingdiamagnetic

Speed of Sound169 m/s

Thermal Properties

Melting Point161.4 K

Boiling Point165.05 K

Triple Point161.405 K

Thermal Conductivity0.006 W/(m·K)

Specific Heat0.158 J/(g·K)

Molar Heat20.786 J/(mol·K)

Heat of Fusion2.27 kJ/mol

Heat of Vaporization12.64 kJ/mol

Abundance

In Earth's Crust0 ppm

In Ocean0 ppm

In Solar System0 ppm

In Universe0.01 ppm

Discovery

Discovered byWilliam Ramsay, Morris Travers

Discovery Year1,898

Occurrenceprimordial

CAS Number7440-63-3

Electron Configuration

Energy

↿⇂

Isotopes of Xenon

Symbol ▲	Mass (u) ▲	Abundance ▲	Half-life ▲	Decay Mode ▲
¹²⁴Xe	123.905890	0.095%	18 Zy	Double Electron Capture
¹²⁶Xe	125.904270	0.089%	Stable	Stable
¹²⁸Xe	127.903530	1.91%	Stable	Stable
¹²⁹Xe	128.904780	26.4%	Stable	Stable
¹³⁰Xe	129.903510	4.1%	Stable	Stable
¹³¹Xe	130.905080	21.2%	Stable	Stable
¹³²Xe	131.904150	26.9%	Stable	Stable
¹³⁴Xe	133.905390	10.4%	Stable	Stable
¹³⁶Xe	135.907220	8.9%	2.18 Zy	Double Beta Minus Decay

Interactive Visualization

Explore the 3D Bohr model of Xenon in our interactive viewer.

View 3D Model of Xenon