XeO2

XeO2, or xenon dioxide, is an oxide of the noble gas xenon. In theory, xenon in the +4 oxidation state combined with oxygen would give XeO2. However, XeO2 has not been established as a stable, isolable compound and information about it is limited. Most experimental data come from gas-phase studies and theoretical calculations rather than from a bulk material.

Structure and bonding for XeO2 are not definitively determined. Some theoretical models predict a molecule in which xenon forms two Xe=O-type interactions, potentially with a linear or near-linear arrangement, while other models allow a bent geometry depending on electronic effects and lone-pair involvement. The exact bond lengths and angles remain topics of calculation and debate.

Occurrence and synthesis are extremely limited. XeO2 has largely been observed only as a transient species in highly controlled, cryogenic or matrix-isolated experiments, or discussed in theoretical contexts. Practical routes to prepare a stable XeO2 solid have not been established, and it is generally considered less stable than other xenon oxides such as XeO3 and XeO4. Under most conditions, XeO2 would be expected to be highly reactive and prone to decomposition or disproportionation to other xenon oxides and oxygen-containing products.

Reactivity and safety: as a highly oxidizing, transient species, XeO2 would be expected to be reactive and potentially hazardous, with handling typically limited to specialized research settings. Further experimental confirmation and characterization would be required to establish its properties definitively.

See also: XeO3, XeO4, XeF2, xenon oxides.