A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

196

Noble Gases

Krypton

Kr

36

Forms

Uses

36 36 48

State: Gas

Discovery: 1898

The word krypton means the “hidden one”

in Greek. This element exists as an inert gas

in nature, which means that it does not react

with almost any other element. Krypton is not

found in any minerals and only tiny amounts of

it can be found in the air. Pure krypton produces

a very bright white light when electrified

with a current, which makes it ideal for

use in flash bulbs. Krypton can react with

the element fluorine to form the compound

krypton fluoride, which is used to power

some kinds of laser.

This globe

contains a mixture

of noble gases,

including krypton.

This energy-

efficient bulb

contains krypton.

When this camera’s

flash activates, it’s

a result of krypton

being electrified by

the camera’s battery.

Kr ypton-based

lasers illuminate

this building.

Laser lighting

Digital camera

Plasm

a (^) b
all
P
ur
e^
kr
yp
to
n^
in^
a^ g
las
s^ sp
here
Incandescent bulb
Kr ypton is a transparent
gas but it glows with
a blue-white light when
electricity flows through it.
This sample of
kr ypton is trapped
in a glass sphere.
Sir William
Ramsey won a
Nobel Prize
in Chemistry for
discovering the
noble gases.
196-197_Krypton_Xenon.indd 196 02/12/16 6:54 pm