Krypton and xenon

The krypton cation salt [HC=N—Kr—F] [AsF6] in BrFj is stable over several hours around -55 to -58 C, but on warming decomposes to NFj, CF4, CF3H, and The reaction of B(QF5)3 with XeF2 in dichloromethane gives 

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The latest of three ethylene recovery plants was started in 1991. Sasol sold almost 300,000 t of ethylene in 1992. Sasol also produces polypropylene at Secunda from propylene produced at Sasol Two. In 1992 Sasol started constmction of a linear alpha olefin plant at Secunda to be completed in 1994 (40). Initial production is expected to be 100,000 t/yr pentene and hexene. Sasol also has a project under constmction to extract and purify krypton and xenon from the air separation plants at Sasol Two. Other potential new products under consideration at Sasol are acrylonitrile, acetic acid, acetates, and alkylamines. 

Argon-40 [7440-37-1] is created by the decay of potassium-40. The various isotopes of radon, all having short half-Hves, are formed by the radioactive decay of radium, actinium, and thorium. Krypton and xenon are products of uranium and plutonium fission, and appreciable quantities of both are evolved during the reprocessing of spent fuel elements from nuclear reactors (qv) (see Radioactive tracers). 

The physical properties of argon, krypton, and xenon are frequendy selected as standard substances to which the properties of other substances are compared. Examples are the dipole moments, nonspherical shapes, quantum mechanical effects, etc. The principle of corresponding states asserts that the reduced properties of all substances are similar. The reduced properties are dimensionless ratios such as the ratio of a material s temperature to its critical... 

Krypton and Xenon from Huclear Power Plants. Both xenon and krypton are products of the fission of uranium and plutonium. These gases are present in the spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants in the ratio 1 Kr 4 Xe. Recovered krypton contains ca 6% of the radioactive isotope Kr-85, with a 10.7 year half-life, but all radioactive xenon isotopes have short half-Hves. 

Separation of krypton and xenon from spent fuel rods should afford a source of xenon, technical usage of which is continuously growing (84). As of this writing, however, reprocessing of spent fuel rods is a pohtical problem (see Nuclearreactors). Xenon from fission has a larger fraction of the heavier isotopes than xenon from the atmosphere and this may affect its usefulness in some appHcations. 

Commercially pure (< 99.997%) helium is shipped directiy from helium-purification plants located near the natural-gas supply to bulk users and secondary distribution points throughout the world. Commercially pure argon is produced at many large air-separation plants and is transported to bulk users up to several hundred kilometers away by tmck, by railcar, and occasionally by dedicated gas pipeline (see Pipelines). Normally, only cmde grades of neon, krypton, and xenon are produced at air-separation plants. These are shipped to a central purification faciUty from which the pure materials, as well as smaller quantities and special grades of helium and argon, are then distributed. Radon is not distributed commercially. 

The U.S. production of argon is summarized in Table 5. Because argon is a by-product of air separation, its production is ca 1% that of air feed. Total 1988 United States consumption of neon, krypton, and xenon was 36,400, 6,800, and 1,200 m, respectively (88). 

Table 9. Purities of Commercial Neon, Krypton,, and Xenon ...

The main uses for argon are in metallurgical appHcations and in electric lamps. Neon, krypton, and xenon, because of high costs, are limited to specialized uses in research, instmmentation, and electric lamps. There are no significant technical uses for radon. 

The efficiency of a helium—neon laser is improved by substituting helium-3 for helium-4, and its maximum gain curve can be shifted by varying the neon isotopic concentrations (4). More than 80 wavelengths have been reported for pulsed lasers and 24 for continuous-wave lasers using argon, krypton, and xenon lasing media (111) (see Lasers). 

Off-Gas Treatment. Before the advent of the shear, the gases released from the spent fuel were mixed with the entire dissolver off-gas flow. Newer shear designs contain the fission gases and provide the opportunity for more efficient treatment. The gaseous fission products krypton and xenon are chemically inert and are released into the off-gas system as soon as the fuel cladding is breached. Efficient recovery of these isotopes requires capture at the point of release, before dilution with large quantities of air. Two processes have been developed, a cryogenic distillation and a Freon absorption. 

Adsorption of Radionuclides. Other appHcations that depend on physical adsorption include the control of krypton and xenon radionuchdes from nuclear power plants (92). The gases are not captured entirely, but their passage is delayed long enough to allow radioactive decay of the short-hved species. Highly rnicroporous coconut-based activated carbon is used for this service. 

Calculated from P T values tabulated in Rabinovich (ed.), Thetmophysical Fropetiies of Neon, Argon, Krypton and Xenon, Standard Press, Moscow, 1976. This book was published in English translation by Hemisphere, New York, 1988 (604 pp.). 

Values extracted and in some cases rounded off from those cited in Rabinovich (ed.), Theimophysical Fropeities of Neon, Argon, Krypton and Xenon, Standards Press, Moscow, 1976. This source contains an exhaustive tabulation of values, v = specific volume, mVkg h = specific enthalpy, kj/kg s = specific entropy, kJ/(kg-K). The notation 6.76.—3 signifies 6.76 x 10 . This book was published in English translation by Hemisphere, New York, 1988 (604 pp.). 

What are the molecular species present in gaseous neon, argon, krypton, and xenon Explain. 

Dry air is a mixture of gases normally containing 78.08% of nitrogen, 20.94% oxygen, 0.04% carbon dioxide, plus small amounts of argon, neon, helium, krypton, and xenon by volume. 

Menger P., van der Elsken J. Four time density correlations around a dissolved HC1 molecule in dense argon, krypton and xenon as determined from linewidth data, J. Chem. Phys. 75, 17-21 (1981). 

In comparison with hydrocarbon and polymeric matrices, which have their own absorptions in the IR and can react chemically with the intermediates, inert gas matrices are free of these shortcomings. Neon, krypton and xenon have been used as matrix substances in some studies. However, only argon and nitrogen matrices are widely adopted because of the availability of the pure gases and the fact that there is a variety of cryostats that can provide the optimal temperature conditions for the formation of rigid and transparent matrices from these elements. 

Cation formation gets trickier for atoms with higher atomic numbers. Cadmium, for instance, lies between the noble gases krypton and xenon ... 

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