Element 54

Xenon (Xe)

Noble gas · Period 5 · Group 18 · p-block

Xenon (Xe) is element 54 of the periodic table, a noble gas in period 5, group 18 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 131.29 and is a gas at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
54
Symbol
Xe
Atomic mass
131.29 u
Category
Noble gases
Period
5
Group
18
Block
p-block
Phase at STP
gas

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6
Shorthand configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 18, 8
Oxidation states
0, +2, +4, +6, +8

Physical properties

Melting point
161.4 K (-111.75 °C)
Boiling point
165.03 K (-108.12 °C)
Density
0.005887 g/cm³
Phase
gas

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
2.6
Atomic radius
108 pm
Covalent radius
140 pm
Van der Waals radius
216 pm
First ionization energy
1170 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
0 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

Notable isotopes of Xenon: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Xe-132131.9041526.89%Stable

Common uses

  • Lighting
  • Anesthesia
  • Ion propulsion
  • Medical imaging

Discovery

Year
1898
Discovered by
William Ramsay, Morris Travers
Country
England

Frequently asked questions

Is xenon a metal?
No. Xenon is a nonmetal, classified as a noble gas on the periodic table.
How many protons does xenon have?
Xenon has 54 protons. Its atomic number is 54, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of xenon.
What group and period is xenon in?
Xenon is in group 18 and period 5 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
What is the atomic mass of xenon?
The atomic mass of xenon is 131.29 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Xenon's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.