kryptons

Krypton is a chemical element with the symbol Kr and atomic number 36. It is a noble gas, part of group 18, and is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. At standard conditions it is a monatomic gas and highly unreactive due to its closed electron shell.

Krypton was discovered in 1898 by chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers while studying the components of air. The name derives from the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden, a reference to the element’s elusiveness in ordinary air.

Occurrence and production: Krypton makes up about 1 part per million of Earth’s atmosphere. It is produced industrially by the fractional distillation of liquid air and is obtained as a byproduct of industrial gas separation processes.

Isotopes: Natural krypton consists of several stable isotopes, primarily Kr-78, Kr-80, Kr-82, Kr-83, Kr-84, and Kr-86, with Kr-86 being the most abundant. Kr-85 is a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission and has applications as a tracer in hydrology, ventilation studies, and industrial leak testing.

Applications: Krypton is used in specialized lighting, including krypton-filled fluorescent lamps and krypton arc lamps that produce bright white light. Krypton gas is also used in certain laser systems, notably krypton fluoride lasers (KrF) for microlithography and materials processing. In energy-efficient glazing, krypton gas is used as an insulating fill in double- or triple-glazed windows due to its low thermal conductivity. Krypton is chemically inert and non-toxic, but as with any inert gas, it can pose asphyxiation risks in confined spaces.