Krypton
💡 In Your World
Like other noble gases, krypton is used in lighting. It's a key component in high-intensity airport runway lights and some camera flashes. Because it's a better insulator than argon, it's also used to fill the space between the panes of high-performance, energy-efficient windows.
📖 The Discovery Story
Krypton was discovered in 1898 by British chemists Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers. After removing oxygen, nitrogen, and argon from a sample of liquid air, they were left with a small residue. Spectroscopic analysis of this residue revealed a new element. They named it "krypton" from the Greek word kryptos, meaning "the hidden one."
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Gas |
| Melting Point | -157.37 °C / -251.27 °F |
| Boiling Point | -153.415 °C / -244.147 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰4s²4p⁶ |
| Abundance in Earth's Atmosphere | 0.0001% (1 ppm) |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
As a noble gas, krypton is non-toxic and chemically inert. The main safety concern is that of an asphyxiant. Because it is much denser than air, it can accumulate in low-lying, poorly ventilated areas and displace the oxygen needed for breathing.