Amazing Facts About The Krypton Element, One Of The Rarest Noble Gases
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Krypton is one of the elements present on the periodic table.
It falls under Group 18, also known as the group of noble gases. Krypton is also considered to be a rare gas.
British chemists Morris W Travers and Sir William Ramsay discovered the element of krypton in the year 1898. Sir William Ramsay had also discovered several other noble gases like argon and helium.
Although William Ramsay had not discovered radon, a natural noble gas, he was the first individual to have isolated the element for the first time. Sir William Ramsay was given the Nobel Prize in 1904 to discover these elements as well as their places in the periodic table.
The discovery of krypton was made when the process involving the boiling of liquid air had left behind some residue. Krypton was part of this residue, and the chemists thus studied it before they declared that a new element had been discovered.
The element's name is derived from the Greek term 'kryptos,' which refers to something that is 'hidden.' Read on to find out more interesting facts about krypton.
Scientific Facts
Every element in existence that has been discovered or is yet to be discovered has different physical and chemical properties that help define and group it with similar elements and distinguish it from others at the same time. Krypton also has such properties which determine its position on the periodic table.
Krypton is chemically represented with the symbol Kr. This chemical symbol of the element is used to represent a chemical reaction involving krypton.
The atomic weight of krypton is 89.798. The atomic number (relates to the number of protons present in the nucleus of an element's atom) of krypton is 36. The ionization energy of this element is 14.000 eV.
The melting point of krypton is -251.3 F (-157.4 C), while its boiling point is -244.1 F (-153.4 C). The density of one krypton atom is 0.049 oz per gal (3.733 g per l). The electron distribution of krypton's atom for each shell is 2, 8, 18, and 8.
Krypton is placed in period four of the periodic table, and the block is p-block. There are around 30 isotopes of krypton that have been discovered so far. Kr-78, Kr-80, Kr-82, Kr-83, Kr-84, and Kr-86 are considered to be the stable isotopes of krypton. Other isotopes of this element include Kr-100 and Kr-69.
Characteristics
While the characteristics of krypton are partly defined through its position in the periodic table, they are also established through its state of existence, surrounding conditions such as temperature and presence of other elements, and its ability to react with them.
The above-stated krypton's features aid in identifying the element and deciding its role in different chemical reactions.
The most natural form of krypton is krypton gas; however, solid krypton and liquid krypton also exist. As an inert gas, krypton shares many characteristics with the other gases which fall under the same category.
Similar to the others, krypton is also colorless and odorless. It further has no taste. This element is monatomic, which refers to the presence of a single atom.
Krypton forms quite a low number of chemical compounds as compared to other elements. Krypton can react with fluorine under certain conditions. The element of krypton can be obtained through the fractional distillation of liquid air. The solid form of krypton appears in white and is crystalline.
Applications
Although krypton reacts with other elements on only rare occasions, there are still plenty of ways this element is used. The utility of krypton is varied and depends on the purpose of the chemical reaction. Predominantly present in the form of gas at room temperatures, krypton, its isotopes, and compounds have been used by humans to create different processes.
One of the popular uses of krypton is in products used for lighting. The flashing lights at the airport runways are created using krypton. The ionized gas form of krypton looks extremely whitish, which is a feature that proves to be useful in the field of photography. High-speed photography makes use of kryptons-based bulbs as a flash.
Luminous signs are created with the combination of krypton and other gases, which give a neo look of the greenish-yellow color. Krypton lasers are also utilized in nuclear fusion research and light shows.
Energy-saving fluorescent lights and incandescent bulbs made use of krypton as a filling gas. Astronomers can use the comparison between krypton and hydrogen in terms of their abundance in relation to each other to measure the amount of nucleosynthesis that has taken place in a specific region in interstellar space.
Kr-85 is an isotope of krypton that is used in the detection of nuclear reactors and research facilities. The radioactive feature of this isotope can be used to detect the escaping atoms through the radiation they cause.
Precautions
While krypton is mostly considered non-toxic, there are some instances where it can affect the human body, which might not be suitable for overall health. Krypton isn't inherently present in any organism and is thus not part of any organism's biology. It is instead present in the earth's atmosphere.
Similar to helium gas, krypton may play the role of an asphyxiant. Although it is non-toxic as an asphyxiant, it can still have certain effects on the human body similar to those of narcotics. Breathing in excessive amounts of air filled with krypton can cause symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
Therefore, an individual must be careful while experimenting with this element. Proper precautions must be observed before beginning a chemical reaction involving krypton. It can prove to be fatal if the element is not handled in the right manner.
Kr-85 has a high toxicity rate, and contact with this isotope may result in the development of thyroid disease, disorders of skin, kidney, and liver, and different cancers.
Other Miscellaneous Facts
There are more interesting facts about krypton that can be studied. While some of these facts are further related to krypton's uses and chemical reactions with other elements, others are just random trivia about the element.
Krypton difluoride is a chemical compound made with a combination of krypton and fluorine. Krypton difluoride is chemically presented as KrF2, and this chemical compound was first created in 1963.
Krypton difluoride is present in a white crystalline form. Lasers formed using a combination of fluorine and krypton can be so powerful that they can produce pulses that are 500 times more powerful than that of the electrical grid of the entire United States.
Krypton is one of the by-products of the process of uranium fission. Sometimes krypton is used to provide insulation to window panes. This happens when the gas is filled in between the glass panes. Some isotopes of krypton are used in nuclear medicine, computer tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
FAQs
What is krypton used for?
Krypton is used in flash lamps, tracer studies, lasers, incandescent light bulbs, and luminescent tubes. It can also be helpful in nuclear plants and medical machinery.
Why is krypton so special?
Krypton is among some of the rarest gases present on this planet. It is present in only a tiny amount in the atmosphere compared to other inert gases.
Is krypton poisonous?
In general, krypton may not cause harm in normal ranges; however, krypton can be poisonous in excess or as certain isotopes and chemical compounds.
What is the hardness of krypton?
Krypton has no hardness.
How many isotopes does krypton have?
Krypton has 30 isotopes which are inclusive of six stables krypton isotopes.
Is krypton gas expensive?
Yes, krypton gas is an expensive commodity due to being a rare one.
What country discovered krypton?
The discovery of krypton took place in Britain in 1898 by Sir William Ramsey and Morris W Travers.
What elements does krypton bond with?
Under specific conditions, Krypton bonds with the extreme electromagnetic atoms of oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine.
What is the use of krypton 85?
Kr-85 is a krypton isotope used in nuclear power plants and research facilities. It is also used in discharge lamps in the entertainment industry.
Is krypton a conductor?
Similar to other gases and non-metals, krypton has the ability of insulation. Thus, this insulator is a poor conductor of electricity and heat.
What percentage of krypton is in the air?
There is about 0.0001% of krypton present in the air.
Can you touch krypton?
Contact with krypton is not generally allowed; it can cause frostbite on contact with unprotected skin in liquid form.
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