Xenon properties
- Atomic mass
- 131.29 u
- Category
- Noble gas
- Group
- 18
- Period
- 5
- Block
- p-block
- Melting point
- 161.4 K (-111.7 °C)
- Boiling point
- 165.03 K (-108.1 °C)
- Density
- 5.894 g/L
- Atomic radius
- 216 pm
- Ionization energy
- 12.13 eV
- Electron affinity
- —
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 1898
Xenon electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 18 · 8
The electron configuration of Xenon (Xe) is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6. Its 54 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 8.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Xenon
A neutral Xenon atom has 54 protons and 54 electrons. Most Xenon atoms have about 77 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 131, minus the atomic number 54.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Xenon have?
8
Xenon has 8 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 5. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Xenon orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Xenon
131.29 g/mol
One mole of Xenon atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 131.29 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Xenon facts
- Xenon lights up bright car headlamps and camera flash tubes.
- Spacecraft ion thrusters often use xenon as their propellant.
- Xenon (Xe) has atomic number 54 and is a gas at room temperature. It was discovered in 1898.
Position in the periodic table
Xenon is element 54, in period 5 and group 18 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Xenon
Xenon fills the arc lamps in cinema projectors and searchlights, producing a bright, daylight-like light. It can be used as a general anesthetic, and specially prepared xenon-129 gas lets MRI scanners image how air moves through the lungs. Large tanks of liquid xenon are used in underground physics experiments searching for dark matter.
Who discovered Xenon?
Scottish chemist William Ramsay and English chemist Morris Travers discovered xenon in London in 1898, in the residue left after liquefied air was evaporated. Its name comes from the Greek xenos, meaning 'stranger'.
Where does the name come from?
Xenon comes from the Greek xenos, meaning 'stranger' or 'foreigner'. William Ramsay and Morris Travers named it in 1898; it was the last of three new gases they separated from liquefied air that year.
Same group
Compare Xenon
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Xenon?
The electron configuration of Xenon (Xe) is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6. Its 54 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 8.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Xenon have?
A neutral Xenon atom has 54 protons and 54 electrons. Most Xenon atoms have about 77 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 131, minus the atomic number 54.
How many valence electrons does Xenon have?
Xenon has 8 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 5. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Xenon?
The molar mass of Xenon is 131.29 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 131.29 u.
Is Xenon a metal?
No. Xenon is a noble gas, so it is a nonmetal.
Is Xenon radioactive?
Ordinary Xenon is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Xenon on the periodic table?
Xenon is element 54, in period 5 and group 18 of the periodic table, in the p-block.