The chemical formula of xenon is kr, which is a natural noble gas with the largest relative atomic mass and the highest density. The main application of xenon is in the lighting industry, but also used in the medical and semiconductor industries.

Applications

Chips

Xenon can be used as purging gas in the etching production steps in the chips production instead of argon. Due to the  high cost a xenon recovery system is necessary.

Lasers

Xenon is used in some types of ion and excimer lasers. These are used for medical, semiconductor and industrial applications, and for research.

Lighting

The major application for xenon is in the lighting industry. Both sodium and mercury lamps, which are used extensively for outdoor lighting, such as on motorways and other roads, are filled with pure xenon.

Chemical

Xenon based chemical compounds (fluoride, trioxide, perxenate) serve as fluorinating and oxidizing agents in certain specific applications.

Medical

Xenon isotopes are used as trace markers in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans.   Xenon can be used as a general anaesthetic.

Aviation

Xenon has been used by both European as well as NASA spacecraft as rocket fuel for small ion thrusters to position satellites in orbit.