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Krypton is a chemical element with the symbol Kr and atomic number 36. It is one of the noble gases in the periodic table, characterized by its chemical inertness and very low reactivity. At standard conditions it exists as a colorless, odorless gas, and it is extremely nonreactive due to its complete valence electron shell.

Natural krypton occurs in trace amounts in Earth’s atmosphere, at about a few parts per million by volume. It makes up a small fraction of the inert gases produced from the fractionally distillated air. Krypton is primarily obtained as a byproduct of processing natural gas and from air separation.

Krypton was discovered in 1898 by chemists Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers during the study of air’s components. The name derives from the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden, reflecting its initially elusive nature as a rare constituent of air.

Applications of krypton include lighting and signage, where krypton-filled lamps and gas mixtures produce bright, efficient light. It is also used in some high-intensity discharge lamps and in certain laser systems, notably krypton fluoride (KrF) excimer lasers used in semiconductor lithography. In addition, krypton is employed as an inert shielding gas for welding and in other specialized optical and scientific instrumentation.

Isotopes of krypton include several stable forms and a few radioactive ones produced by nuclear processes. The naturally occurring krypton is a mixture of stable isotopes, with Kr-84 and Kr-86 among the more common ones. Krypton’s inert nature makes it non-toxic under ordinary conditions, though high concentrations can displace oxygen and pose asphyxiation risks.