Kr
83.798Krypton
Kripton
Krypton is a noble gas with atomic number 36. It is used in lighting, high-speed photography, krypton fluoride excimer lasers, insulating windows and was once used in the definition of the meter.
36
83.798 g/mol
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶
2 | 8 | 18 | 8
3
3.47e-3 g/cm³
-157.4 °C
-153.2 °C
William Ramsay
Krypton was discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers during fractional distillation of liquid air. Its name comes from the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden.
Krypton-78
Natural abundance: About 0.36%. Stable isotope of krypton.Krypton-80
Natural abundance: About 2.29%. Stable isotope of krypton.Krypton-82
Natural abundance: About 11.6%. Stable isotope of krypton.Krypton-83
Natural abundance: About 11.5%. Stable isotope used in NMR and materials studies.Krypton-84
Natural abundance: About 57.0%. The most abundant stable isotope of krypton.Krypton-85
Natural abundance: Synthetic / trace atmospheric. Half-life: About 10.8 years. Radioactive fission product used in nuclear monitoring and specialized industrial applications.Krypton-86
Natural abundance: About 17.3%. Stable isotope once used in the meter definition.KrF₂
Krypton DifluorideRare noble gas compound and strong fluorinating agent under specialized conditions.- Krypton fluoride excimer lasers for ultraviolet lithography and research
- High-speed photography flash lamps
- Specialty lighting and energy-saving fluorescent lamps
- Insulating gas in some high-performance windows
- Krypton-85 in monitoring and specialized industrial applications
Krypton has no known biological role. It is chemically inert under ordinary conditions and can act as an asphyxiant by displacing oxygen in confined spaces.
- Krypton-86 light was used to define the meter from 1960 to 1983.
- Krypton fluoride excimer lasers emit deep ultraviolet light used in lithography and research.
- Krypton is a noble gas, but krypton difluoride shows that noble gas compounds can exist under special conditions.
- The fictional planet Krypton made the element famous in popular culture.
- Krypton has atomic number 36 and belongs to group 18, the noble gases.
- Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶.
- Krypton has a full valence shell and is monatomic under ordinary conditions.
- Noble gases are generally inert, but heavier noble gases can form rare compounds with highly reactive elements such as fluorine.
What is the atomic number of krypton?
The atomic number of krypton is 36.
What is the electron configuration of krypton?
Krypton has the electron configuration [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶.
Is krypton a noble gas?
Yes. Krypton is a group 18 noble gas.
What is krypton used for?
Krypton is used in specialty lighting, high-speed flash lamps, excimer lasers, insulating windows and some monitoring applications.
What is krypton-85 used for?
Krypton-85 is a radioactive isotope used in nuclear monitoring and some specialized industrial applications.
How was krypton used to define the meter?
From 1960 to 1983, the meter was defined using a specified wavelength of light emitted by krypton-86.
Can krypton form compounds?
Yes, but only under special conditions. Krypton difluoride, KrF₂, is the best-known krypton compound.