Krypton (Kr)

Atomic Number36
Atomic Mass83.7982 u
CategoryNoble gas
Electron Config[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶
Appearancecolorless gas, exhibiting a whitish glow in a high electric field
Density (STP)3.75 g/L
Melting Point115.78 K
Boiling Point119.93 K
Electronegativity3 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy1350.8 kJ/mol
Atomic Radius88 pm
Crystal StructureFace-centered Cubic
Discovered ByWilliam Ramsay (1898)

Brief Introduction

Krypton (Kr) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas that is chemically inert under normal conditions. It is present in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere and emits a bright white light when electrically excited. Key details about Krypton (Kr) are as follows:

Uses: Used in high-performance lighting (krypton flash lamps for photography, airport runway lights), energy-efficient windows (krypton-filled double glazing for insulation), lasers (krypton ion lasers), and in some specialized medical applications. Radioactive Kr-85 is used in leak detection.

Production/Extraction: Obtained through fractional distillation of liquid air. Krypton is very rare in the atmosphere (about 1 ppm), making it more expensive than many other noble gases. Production is energy-intensive.

History: Discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers in London through fractional distillation of liquid air, shortly after discovering neon. Named from Greek "kryptos" meaning "hidden" due to its initial elusiveness.

Health Effects & Safety: Chemically inert and non-toxic. Can cause asphyxiation by displacing oxygen in confined spaces. Kr-85 (radioactive isotope from nuclear fission) poses radiation hazards. No biological role. Krypton-oxygen mixture has anesthetic properties.

Price/Market: Expensive due to atmospheric rarity (rarer than xenon in commercial production). Demand from specialized lighting and window industries. Production often linked to xenon extraction.

Properties: Colorless and odorless, complete outer electron shell makes it extremely unreactive (only a few compounds known under extreme conditions), emits bright white light when excited electrically, denser than air, and characterized by distinctive spectral lines.

← Bromine (Br) · Rubidium (Rb) →

Periodic Table