Krypton history

As all known lunar meteorites are finds (and therefore have nonzero terrestrial ages), we need at least four measured quantities to determine the four parameters of a simple one-stage history. Similarly, for a simple two-stage history, we need at least six measured quantities. Typically the data set available comprises He, Ne, Ne, Ar, C1, A1, and e. Occasionally we may have other information— the concentrations of spallo-genic krypton isotopes, spallogenic xenon isotopes, " Ca, and Mn, the densities of nuclear tracks (tracks/unit area), and the concentrations of certain isotopes produced by thermal neutrons, e.g., Ar (from C1) and Gd. 

The solubility of ordinary atmospheric noble gases (neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) in water is temperature dependent (Benson, 1973). The stable isotope composition of precipitation (6 H, 6 0) also depends on ternperamre. If variations in these constituents can be related to a known history of temperature variation, then groundwater residence times can be estimated (Stute and Schlosser, 1993). 

The closed-shell configuration of noble gas atoms Ng does not prevent formation of compounds, either as even, positive oxidation states of xenon, isosteric with iodine complexes (and to a smaller extent by krypton and radon) or functioning as Lewis bases. In condensed matter, Ar, Kr, and Xe form distinct NgCr(CO)j and ArCi(NN)5 complexes. Gaseous noble gas molecular ions, especially HeX and ArX, numerous organo-helium cations, and some neon-containing cations are calculated to be quite stable, and several of them are indeed detected in mass-spectra. The history of Ng chemistry and its relations with the Periodic Table, atomic spectra, and ionization energies, are discussed. 

Newton, David E. Chemical Elements From Carbon to Krypton. Farmington Hills, Mich. U X L, the Gale Group, 1999. Three-volume set. Despite the title, these books cover the history, physical and... 

Marti K, Lugmair GW, Urey HC (1970) Solar wind gases, cosmic-ray spallation products and the irradiation history of Apollo 11 samples. Proc Apollo 11 Ltmar Sci Conf 1357-1367 Marti K, Lightner BD, Osbom TW (1973) Krypton and xenon in some ltmar samples and the age of North Ray Crater. Proc Ltmar Sci Conf 4th 2037-2048... 

Kuroda PK (1960) Nnclear fission in the early history of the earth. Nature 187 36-40 Lewis RS (1975) Rare gases in separated whitlockite from the St. Severin chondrite Xenon and krypton from fission of extinct " " Pu. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39 417-432 Lewis RS, Ming T, Wacker JF, Steele IM (1987) Interstellar diamonds in meteorites. Nature 326 160-162 Lipschutz ME, Gaffey ME, Pellas P (1989) Meteorite parent bodies nature, number, size and relation to present-day asteroids. In Asteroids 11. Binzel RP, Gehrels T, Matthews MS (eds) University of Arizona, Tucson, p 740-788... 

Pepin RO, Becker RH, Rider PE (1995) Xenon and krypton isotopes in extraterrestrial regolith soils and in the solar wind. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59 4997-5022 Pellas P, Fieni C (1988) Thermal histories of ordinary chondrite parent asteroids. Lunar Planet Sci XIX, Lunar Planetary Institute, Houston, p 915-916... 

In the early 60 s they surprised the scientific community once more. Scientists showed that xenon (mainly) and krypton can form chemical compounds. Now more than 150 such compounds are known. Such late debunking of the myth about the complete chemical inactivity of inert gases is a paradoxical and interesting feature in their history. 

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