xenon

[ zee-non, zen-on ]
/ ˈzi nɒn, ˈzɛn ɒn /

noun Chemistry.

a heavy, colorless, chemically inactive, monatomic gaseous element used for filling radio, television, and luminescent tubes. Symbol: Xe; atomic weight: 131.30; atomic number: 54.

Origin of xenon

1898; < Greek xénon, neuter of xénos strange (see -on2); name introduced by William Ramsay, the element's discoverer

Example sentences from the Web for xenon

British Dictionary definitions for xenon

xenon
/ (ˈzɛnɒn) /

noun

a colourless odourless gaseous element occurring in trace amounts in air; formerly considered inert it is now known to form compounds and is used in radio valves, stroboscopic and bactericidal lamps, and bubble chambers. Symbol: Xe; atomic no: 54; atomic wt: 131.29; valency: 0; density: 5.887 kg/m³; melting pt: –111.76°C; boiling pt: –108.0°C

Word Origin for xenon

C19: from Greek: something strange

Medical definitions for xenon

xenon
[ zēnŏn′ ]

n. Symbol Xe

A colorless, odorless, highly unreactive gaseous element found in minute quantities in the atmosphere and extracted commercially from liquefied air, used as an anesthetic and, in radioisotope form, for diagnostic imaging. Atomic number 54.

Scientific definitions for xenon

xenon
[ zēnŏn′ ]

Xe

A colorless, odorless element in the noble gas group occurring in extremely small amounts in the atmosphere. It was the first noble gas found to form compounds with other elements. Xenon is used in lamps that make intense flashes, such as strobe lights and flashbulbs for photography. Atomic number 54; atomic weight 131.29; melting point -111.9°C; boiling point -107.1°C; density (gas) 5.887 grams per liter; specific gravity (liquid) 3.52 (-109°C). See Periodic Table.