What Are The Physical And Chemical Properties Of Xenon Tetroxide?
Xenon tetroxide is a yellow crystalline solid that is highly explosive and unstable at room temperature. It can decompose spontaneously, sometimes explosively, even in the absence of external stimuli.
The compound's molecular formula is XeO4, and it has a molecular weight of 195.29 g/mol. Xenon tetroxide has a melting point of -35.9°C and a boiling point of 0°C. It is sparingly soluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents.
In terms of chemical properties, xenon tetroxide is an oxidizing agent and can react with reducing agents to produce potentially explosive mixtures. It can also react violently with water, metals, and other materials that are typically not reactive with other oxidizers. Additionally, xenon tetroxide can decompose into xenon and oxygen without any external stimulus, which contributes to its high instability and explosiveness.
Overall, the physical and chemical properties of xenon tetroxide make it a hazardous and potentially dangerous compound to handle and store.