Xenon Hexafluoride
What is Xenon Hexafluoride?
Xenon hexafluoride (XeF₆) is a noble gas compound formed by the direct reaction of xenon with excess fluorine at elevated temperatures and pressures, and is the most reactive and highest fluoride of xenon. It is a colorless solid at room temperature with a complex structure — a distorted octahedron due to the stereochemically active lone pair on xenon — and undergoes rapid, vigorous hydrolysis with water to produce xenon trioxide (XeO₃). XeF₆ is used as a powerful fluorinating agent in synthetic chemistry.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Xenon hexafluoride (XeF₆) is a noble gas compound formed by the direct reaction of xenon with excess fluorine at elevated temperatures and pressures, and is the most reactive and highest fluoride of xenon. It is a colorless solid at room temperature with a complex structure — a distorted octahedron due to the stereochemically active lone pair on xenon — and undergoes rapid, vigorous hydrolysis with water to produce xenon trioxide (XeO₃). XeF₆ is used as a powerful fluorinating agent in synthetic chemistry.