• Question: what is xenon used in

    Asked by foxy the pirate fox to Christie, Dan, David, Dawn, Sian on 14 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Dawn Lau

      Dawn Lau answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      Xenon can be found in flash bulbs used by professional photographers and lamps for tanning beds. Sometimes it is also used in lamps used to kill bacteria, which is important in food processing. It’s also been used as a general anaesthetic, but xenon is not the most common form of general anaesthetic.

    • Photo: Christie Waddington

      Christie Waddington answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Xenon (Xe, atomic number 54) is a colourless, odourless gas that can be found in very small amounts in the Earth’s atmosphere. Xenon has tons of uses! Here are a few:

      1. Flash lamps such as those used by photographers, or bactericidal (bacteria-killing!) lamps. Even IMAX cinema screens use them!

      2. Lasers! Especially when mixed with helium, which makes it a better laser!

      3. Anaesthetics – not quite in Europe, but soon! It is more expensive than other anaesthetics, but they’ve reduced costs down recently!

    • Photo: Sian Thomas

      Sian Thomas answered on 20 Jun 2016:

      Interesting to see that one of the applications mentioned by the other scientists was in food. As I was not aware of this I figured that I should make sure I speak to our hygiene and micro team to find out! I will let you know how I get on later in the week (if I am still in!)

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