Soundbite

Xenon dioxide

By 2011-05-01T00:00:00

Isolated xenon dioxide molecule XeO2 (left) Xenon dioxide XeO2 in the solid state (right)

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

Simon Cotton takes a look at those compounds that find themselves in the news or relate to our everyday lives.

Two Canadian chemists, David Brock and Gary Schrobilgen, have just filled in one of the gaps on the short-list of 'missing compounds' by preparing xenon dioxide1. XeO3 and XeO4 had been known for years, but until now, no one had succeeded in making XeO2.

Simon Cotton explores this missing compound.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.