NOBLE GASES

Noble Gases

chemically inert, gaseous, all occur in the atmosphere except Radon

Preparation for Helium

similar method with natural gases

Preparation for Radon

produced during natural decay of Radium

Preparation for Argon, Neon, Krypton and Xenon

produced commercially from liquid air by fractionation process

Helium

2nd lightest gas, carrier/diluent of medicinally important gas

Toxicity of Helium

Donald Duck’s Sound

Helium’s color of cylinder

brown cylinder

Used in the preparation of synthetic airs

low density, low solubility in blood

Low solubility in blood

easier blood/distribution of gas

Helium’s component of Artificial Air

He 80%, O2 20%

Neon

for advertising neon lights, and no pharmaceutical use

Argon

most abundant noble gas

Argon

substitute with N2 gas in providing an inert atmosphere

Argon’s color of container

dark green container

Oxidizable

Exposure to air can cause oxidizable substances to undergo oxidation.

Krypton

has inhalational anesthetic activity

Isolated Krypton

Ramsay & Travers

Xenon

investigational inhalational anesthetic gas

Xenon

least abundant of all noble gases

Stable fluorides of Xenon

difluoride, tetrafluoride, hexafluoride

Crystalline forms of Xenon

sodium perxenate and perkryptate

Radon

inert gas given off by Radium salts

Radon

a radioactive element used in the treatment of certain cancers