Appearance and Characteristics
Harmful effects:
Xenon is not considered to be toxic but many of its compounds are toxic as a result of their strong oxidizing properties.
Characteristics:
Xenon is a rare, colorless, odorless heavy gas. Xenon is inert towards most chemicals. Many compounds of xenon have now been made, principally with fluorine or oxygen. Both oxides, xenon trioxide (XeO3) and xenon tetroxide (XeO4) are highly explosive.
Uses of Xenon
enon is used in photographic flashes, in high pressure arc lamps for motion picture projection, and in high pressure arc lamps to produce ultraviolet light. It is used in instruments for radiation detection, e.g., neutron and X-ray counters and bubble chambers. Xenon is used in medicine as a general anesthetic and in medical imaging. Modern ion thrusters for space travel use inert gases – especially xenon – for propellant, so there is no risk of the explosions associated with chemical propulsion.