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FACTS ABOUT: xenon xenon

Definition: xenon  Play xenonpronunciation   Xenon is a chemical element of the inert gas group that has fifty-four protons
in each nucleus and that is used as the atmosphere in fluorescent lamps
because it glows with a blue light when excited by electricity. (symbol: Xe)

Fun Facts


1. It’s a "Noble" Gas: Xenon belongs to a special family of elements called noble gases. They are famously anti-social and almost never combine or react with other elements!


2. Totally Invisible: At room temperature, xenon is a gas you cannot see, smell, or taste. It completely hides in plain sight.


3. It Glows Bright Blue: When you pass electricity through xenon gas, it lights up with a brilliant blue or lavender glow. This makes it perfect for camera flashbulbs, strobe lights, and flashy car headlights.


4. Super Heavy Gas: Xenon is much heavier than normal air. If you could somehow fill a party balloon with it, the balloon would sink straight to the floor instead of floating up!


5. Named After a "Stranger": The name xenon comes from the Greek word xenos, which means "stranger." Scientists named it that because it was extremely rare and difficult to isolate when it was first discovered in 1898.


6. Hard to Find in the Air: Earth's atmosphere is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Xenon is so rare that out of every 20 million parts of air, only one part is xenon!


7. Big Screen Magic: Xenon lamps are so intensely bright and powerful that movie theaters use them in projectors to light up giant cinema screens, and lighthouses use them to guide ships safely at night.