Important Compounds of Xenon: Definition and Facts

Traditionally, noble gases were held to be the most inert elements in the whole of chemistry simply because their full electronic configuration distinguished them as having a relatively low degree of reactivity. This nominally changed in the early 1960s, when chemists forced the heavier noble gases into compounds. It would mean a breakthrough, launching a completely new field in chemistry—one in which, for the first time, a noble gas, xenon, had been allowed to participate in exquisite chemical transformations. Just imagine the world without advanced medical imaging or without effective and energy-efficient light sources. For instance, thanks to powerful xenon lamps with their hard and white light, our streets and sports halls are illuminated and even light up the whole sky for festive occasions. Xenon compounds reach deep into the very core of medicine, sharpening the image of computed tomographic devices, and filing the ability of probable diagnoses made by doctors. Actually, such direct applications show how important xenon compounds are in the sense of theoretical chemistry, but they also have very practical applications in everyday life.

JEE Main 2025: Chemistry Formula | Study Materials | High Scoring Topics | Preparation Guide

JEE Main 2025: Syllabus | Sample Papers | Mock Tests | PYQs | Study Plan 100 Days

NEET 2025: Syllabus | High Scoring Topics |  PYQs

This Story also Contains

1. General Concept and Definitions
2. Types of Compounds of Xenon
3. 2. Xenon Oxide:
4. 3. Xenon Oxyfluorides:
5. Applications and Relevance
6. Some Solved Examples
7. Summary

General Concept and Definitions

Xenon has the chemical symbol Xe and belongs to the atomic number 54. It is defined as a noble gas, that is unwilling to form compounds under standard conditions. Scientists have, however, managed to make xenon react with other elements under specified conditions in the 1960s. In such a way, a succession of different compounds for xenon was proven. These are the fluorides, oxides, and oxyfluorides of xenon, to name some. Then, the existence of a thallium compound is furthered since xenon has a relatively large atomic size and is able to have empty d-orbitals that give it room for bonding with other atoms. In this chapter, the distinctive chemistry of xenon is compiled in one place with a pathway toward understanding the various types of its compounds.

Types of Compounds of Xenon

There are a number of types of compounds of xenon which have various applications and different properties:

1. Xenon Fluorides:

Xenon combines with fluorine to give a series of fluorides—for example, XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6. These compounds have been prepared and are very strong oxidizers; they have been used in the synthesis of several chemical compounds.

Xenon-fluorine compounds

Xenon forms three binary fluorides, XeF₂, XeF_4, and XeF₆ by the direct reaction of elements under appropriate experimental conditions.

$\begin{aligned} & \mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{g})+\mathrm{F}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{673 \mathrm{~K}, 1 \mathrm{bar}} \mathrm{XeF}_2(\mathrm{~s}) \\ & \mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{g})+2 \mathrm{~F}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{673 \mathrm{~K}, 1 \mathrm{bar}} \mathrm{XeF}_4(\mathrm{~s}) \\ & \mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{g})+3 \mathrm{~F}_2(\mathrm{~g}) \xrightarrow{673 \mathrm{~K}, 1 \text { bar }} \mathrm{XeF}_6(\mathrm{~s})\end{aligned}$

XeF₆ can also be prepared by the interaction of XeF₄ and O₂F₂ at 143K.

$\mathrm{XeF}_4+\mathrm{O}_2 \mathrm{~F}_2 \rightarrow \mathrm{XeF}_6+\mathrm{O}_2$

XeF₂, XeF_4, and XeF₆ are colorless crystalline solids and sublime readily at 298 K. They are powerful fluorinating agents. They are readily hydrolyzed even by traces of water. For example, XeF₂ is hydrolyzed to give Xe, HF, and O₂.

$2 \mathrm{XeF}_2(\mathrm{~s})+2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l}) \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{g})+4 \mathrm{HF}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{O}_2(\mathrm{~g})$

The structures of the three xenon fluorides can be deduced from VSEPR. XeF₂ and XeF₄ have linear and square planar structures respectively. XeF₆ has seven electron pairs (6 bonding pairs and one lone pair) and would, thus, have a distorted octahedral structure as found experimentally in the gas phase.

Xenon-oxygen compounds
Hydrolysis of XeF₄ and XeF₆ with water gives XeO₃.

$\begin{aligned} & 6 \mathrm{XeF}_4+12 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \rightarrow 4 \mathrm{Xe}+2 \mathrm{XeO}_3+24 \mathrm{HF}+3 \mathrm{O}^{-} \\ & \mathrm{XeF}_6+3 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{XeO}_3+6 \mathrm{HF}\end{aligned}$

Partial hydrolysis of XeF₆ gives oxyfluorides, XeOF₄ and XeO₂F₂.

$\begin{aligned} & \mathrm{XeF}_6+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{XeOF}_4+2 \mathrm{HF} \\ & \mathrm{XeF}_6+2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{XeO}_2 \mathrm{~F}_2+4 \mathrm{HF}\end{aligned}$

XeO₃ is a colorless explosive solid and has a pyramidal molecular structure. XeOF₄ is a colorless volatile liquid and has a square pyramidal molecular structure.

2. Xenon Oxide:

Also reacts with oxygen to form oxides, which are identical to XeO₃ and XeO₄. The prepared compounds are highly explosive and are in research for being used in modern chemical processes.

3. Xenon Oxyfluorides:

The compounds that were found to be XeOF₂ and XeO₂F₂ only open the doors that xenon might form oxyfluorides. Such compounds that possess such a structure are found to be of interest to chemists and are interesting ones to both theoreticians as well.
From the study of these various types, we really are in a good position to tell the versatility of xenon and its highly reactive character in the making of stable or useful compounds.

Applications and Relevance

The compounds of xenon show applicability in different areas, all attributed to their unique properties, which include:

1. Lighting and Imaging: Since xenon is able to provide bright light and high intensity, xenon lamps can be used in vehicle headlights, projectors, and searchlights. Besides, compounds of xenon are used in medical imaging, mostly in computed tomography scans, where xenon enhances the contrasts and the resolution of obtained images.
2. Propellants and Fuel Cells: International experts have been engaged in researching ways of finding efficient and performance-based oxidizers in rocket propellants Wojciechowski et al.; the xenon-based compounds are also being researched for their possible application in new types of fuel cells that would offer substantially cleaner and more efficient energy sources.
3. Research Symantec: Xenon bonds are used in chemical studies as very powerful stuff. Since they are able to easily oxidize other substances, they mostly find applications within synthesis or mechanism research.
From the above-mentioned applications, the importance of xenon compounds as a means to improve technology and corresponding standards of life can be noted.

Recommended topic video on(Important Compounds of Xenon)

Some Solved Examples

Example 1
Question: The shape of XeF₂ is:
1. triangular bipyramidal
2. linear
3. tetrahedral
4. V-shaped

Solution: In Xenon difluoride (XeF₂), Xe has 5 electron pairs (3 lone pairs and 2 bond pairs), indicating sp³d hybridization. The lone pairs occupy the equatorial positions, and the fluorine atoms occupy the axial positions. Therefore, the shape of the molecule is linear. Hence, the correct answer is Option 2.

Example 2
Question: A xenon compound 'A' upon partial hydrolysis gives XeO₂F₂. The number of lone pairs of electrons present in the compound 'A' is _____ (Round off to the nearest integer).

Solution: The partial hydrolysis reaction of compound 'A' that gives XeO₂F₂ can be considered. The calculation of lone pairs results in 19 lone pairs. Hence, the correct answer is 19.

Example 3
Question: The structure and hybridization of XeO₃ are:
1. triangular, sp³
2. pyramidal, sp³
3. tetrahedral, sp²
4. pyramidal, sp²

Solution: Xenon trioxide (XeO₃) has a pyramidal structure and sp³ hybridization. Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Summary

What had been believed to be an undoubtedly inert element, xenon, now appeared to be a much more active one, capable of forming a variety of stable and useful compounds. This list includes, among others, fluorides and oxides of xenon, as well as oxyfluorides, which are used in lamps, propellants, biological analysis, and general study. The case of xenon compounds broadens our scope on noble gases and opens new avenues toward technological and scientific advances. The study of xenon compounds shows how much can be achieved by questioning assumptions and pushing the elements beyond what they seem to do at first glance.