Xenon tetroxide

Xenon tetroxide (XeO₄) is a volatile, explosive molecular compound in which xenon has oxidation state +8. It is one of the rare compounds in which a noble gas reaches its highest known oxidation state.

Molecular geometry: The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. XeO₄ has a tetrahedral arrangement around xenon.
Neil Bartlett: A British chemist whose 1962 preparation of xenon hexafluoroplatinate helped establish noble-gas chemistry. His discovery prompted efforts to synthesize compounds of xenon, including its oxides.
Noble gas: An element in group 18 of the periodic table, typically characterized by low chemical reactivity. Xenon tetroxide is a striking exception to the traditional picture of noble gases as inert.
Explosive compound: A substance capable of rapid, energy-releasing decomposition or reaction that produces pressure and heat. XeO₄’s instability places it among compounds requiring exceptional caution.
Oxidation state: A bookkeeping value that represents an atom’s electron ownership in a compound. Assigning oxygen −2 gives xenon the +8 state in XeO₄.
Xenon hexafluoroplatinate: A xenon-containing compound first prepared by Neil Bartlett in 1962 through reaction with platinum hexafluoride. Its preparation opened the experimental path toward other xenon compounds.
Periodic table: A tabular arrangement of chemical elements by atomic number and recurring properties. Xenon’s position among the noble gases helps explain why its compounds were once unexpected.
Chemical safety: Practices and principles for preventing harm during the handling, storage, and use of chemicals. The compound’s explosive character makes risk control central to any work involving it.
Xenon–oxygen bond: A chemical bond between xenon and oxygen atoms in a xenon compound. The four Xe–O bonds form the molecule’s tetrahedral framework.
Xenon hexafluoride: A xenon fluoride with formula XeF₆ and xenon in oxidation state +6. This reactive xenon compound served as a starting material in routes to xenon oxides.

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