Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Xenon

Atomic number 54 means that every Xenon nucleus contains 54 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Xenon.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 54 means that every Xenon nucleus contains 54 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Xenon.

Xenon (Xe) is chemical element 54. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in lighting, medical imaging equipment and ion propulsion.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 54 means that every Xenon nucleus contains 54 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Xenon.

Keep exploring

→ Xenon · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

54XeXenon
Xenon · Xe · Z = 54

Xenon (Xe) is chemical element 54. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Xenon (Xe) is chemical element 54. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in lighting, medical imaging equipment and ion propulsion.

What its position in the table tells us

Xenon sits in period 5, group 18 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.