Xenon, although present in the earth atmosphere in trace level, has several applications. It is used — Physical Chemistry — Kinetics Chemistry Question
Xenon compounds
Xenon, although present in the earth atmosphere in trace level, has several applications. It is used in the field of illumination and optics in flash and arc lamps. Xenon is employed as a propellant for ion thrusters in spacecraft. In addition, it has several medical applications. Some of xenon isotopes are used in imaging the soft tissues such as heart, lung, and brain. It is used as a general anesthetic and recently its considerable potential in treating brain injuries, including stroke has been demonstrated.
Xenon being a member of noble gases has extremely low reactivity. Yet, several xenon compounds with highly electronegative atoms such as fluorine and oxygen are known. Xenon reacts with fluorine to form three different xenon fluorides, XeF2, XeF4 and XeF6. All these fluorides readily react with water, releasing pure Xe gas, hydrogen fluoride and molecular oxygen. The oxide and oxofluorides of xenon are obtained by partial or complete hydrolysis of xenon fluorides. Xenon trioxide can be obtained by the hydrolysis of XeF4 or XeF6. The hydrolysis of XeF4 yields XeO3, Xe, HF, and F2. However, hydrolysis of XeF6 produces only XeO3 and HF. When partially hydrolyzed, XeF4 and XeF6 yield XeOF2 and XeOF4, respectively, in addition to HF.
Write balanced equations for the generation of
i. XeO3 by hydrolysis of XeF4
ii. XeO3 by hydrolysis of XeF6
iii. XeOF2 by partial hydrolysis of XeF4
iv. XeOF4 by partial hydrolysis of XeF6
Model Answer
i. 2 XeF4 + 3 H2O → Xe + XeO3 + 6 HF + F2
ii. XeF6 + 3 H2O → XeO3 + 6 HF
iii. XeF4 + H2O → XeOF2 + 2 HF
iv. XeF6 + H2O → XeOF4 + 2 HF
Draw the Lewis structures and give the hybridization at the central atom of
i. XeF2
ii. XeF4
iii. XeO3
iv. XeOF2
v. XeOF4
Model Answer
i.
sp3d
ii.
sp3d2
iii.
sp3
iv.
[VISU AL]
sp3d
v.
sp3d2