Xenon tetrafluoride crystals

FIGURE 15.27 Crystals of xenon tetrafluoride, XeF4. This compound was first prepared in 1062 by the reaction of xenon and fluorine at 6 atm and 4(J(J C. 

When heated in a nickel vessel to 400°C, xenon can be made to react with fluorine to produce colourless crystals of xenon tetrafluoride. 

Crystals of xenon tetrafluoride, the first reported binary compound containing a noble gas element. 

Xenon tetrafluoride forms stable colorless crystals. Two other xenon fluorides, XeF2 and XeFs, were synthesized by the group at Argonne, and a highly explosive xenon oxide (XeOy) was also found. The xenon fluorides react with water to form hydrogen fluoride and oxycompounds. For example ... 

Crystals of the noble gas compound xenon tetrafluoride, Xep4. 

Since Bartlett s discovery, many other noble gas compounds have been made. All involve very electronegative elements. Most are compounds of Xe, and the best characterized compounds are xenon fluorides. Oxygen compounds are also well known. Reaction of Xe with F2, an extremely strong oxidizing agent, in different stoichiometric ratios produces xenon difluoride, Xep2 xenon tetrafluoride, XeF and xenon hexafluoride, XeFg, all colorless crystals (Table 24-3). 

A flurry of activity followed Bartlett s announcement of the preparation of the first xenon compound. Only a few months later, a group at Argonne National Laboratory was able to prepare xenon tetrafluoride by direct reaction of the elements. They placed a 1 5 Xe/F2 ratio of the gases in a nickel container, and, after an hour at 400°C and 6 atm, the xenon was completely consumed. They sublimed the mixture to produce brilliant colorless crystals of XeF4. The reaction is summarized in Equation (19.4) ... 

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