Xenon Trioxide, (XeO3)
Metals & Non-Metals > Noble Gases
Pyramidal structure of XeO3
In XeO3, Xe exhibits sp3 hybridisation. One of the hybrid orbitals is occupied by a lone pair, while other three are involved in the bond formation. This leads to a trigonal pyramidal structure of XeO3.
Xenon trioxide is an unstable compound of xenon, it has +6 oxidation state. Xenon trioxide (XeO3) may be prepared by the hydrolysis of XeF4 or XeF6.
By the hydrolysis of xenon fluorides. XeF4 and XeF6 on hydrolysis gives XeO3
Properties:
- XeO3 is a white, non–volatile, deliquescent solid.
- It is soluble in water.
- When dry, it explodes on heating or by any mechanical shock.
Sodium perxenate (Na4XeO6)
- Its aqueous solution is weakly acidic, due to the formation of xenic acid.
- It is a strong oxidising agent and oxidises Pu3+ to Pu4+ in acidic medium.
- With KF or CsF, it gives oxofluoro salt.
- With aqueous alkali, it forms hydrogenxenate ion (HXeO4−), which slowly disproportionates to give xenon and perxenate ion (XeO64−).
Perxenates are powerful oxidising agents.