Katie Pelc

December 8, 2009

Chemistry

Krypton

Krypton

The element I’m researching is krypton. The name krypton comes from the Greek word

kryptos meaning “the hidden one.” Krypton is located in the fourth position in the noble gas

section of the periodic table. Krypton’s atomic number is thirty-six. It is in the fourth row and

last column of the periodic table.

Krypton is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless element. It occurs in small amounts in the

atmosphere. It is isolates itself by partially distilling liquefied air. Krypton is sometimes used

with other elements to make fluorescent lamps. Krypton can make a clathrates when mixed

with water. Krypton can and might be used in lighting and photography. Krypton plays an

important role in gas lasers. Krypton was found by Sir Williams Ramsay in 1898. Sir William

Ramsay found Krypton in Britain. He found it by looking at the residue left after liquefied air

was evaporated. The amount of krypton in the atmosphere is unknown. Krypton is formed in

the crust of the Earth when uranium and other elements that are radioactive break down.

Krypton does not react chemically.

Krypton combines with Fluorine. Krypton is found in the compound Krypton difluoride

and Krypton tetrafluoride. Krypton is combined with other elements but they are only lab

tested, they are not used for anything. Krypton is used in various types of lamps. It is used in

airport runway lights. It is also used in movie projectors and slide projectors. Krypton is used

to make neon lights. Krypton is used with Argon in fluorescent lamps that are energy saving

lights. Krypton is used in photographic projection lamps. When combined with other gases

krypton emits a greenish yellow light. Krypton is mixed with xenon to make incandescent

lights. These lights are brighter and emit a more blue light than usual lights. Krypton emits are

white light. Lights used for advertising are usually all Krypton based even though the letters

may be in another color. Krypton a much more powerful red light than neon and is used for

high powered lights in laser light shows. In laser lights the have krypton and a mirror to capture

the red light only. Krypton is used with fluorine to make a krypton fluoride laser. This laser is

used in nuclear fusion. Liquefied Krypton is used to make quasi-homogeneous electromagnetic

calorimeters. Krypton is also used in older jet engines. Krypton is used in MRIs to image airways.

Krypton is used with xenon in ventilation.

The melting point of Krypton is -157.2 degrees Celsius. The boiling point for Krypton is -153.4

degrees Celsius. The crystal structure of Krypton is cubic. Krypton glows a pale mauve color when it is

electrified. Krypton has a high thermal conductivity. Krypton is also called an inert gas. Krypton is a

monatomic gas.