Discovery of Krypton and Its Concept Formation and Evolution
WANG Zi-Xuan1, ZHANG Qian-Feng1,2,3**, YUAN Zhen-Dong1
1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; 2. Postdoctoral Research Station of Chemistry, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; 3. Affiliated Foreign Language School of Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
Abstract In 1898, following the recognition of the noble gases as a new group in the periodic table, William Ramsay, guided by periodic trends within the group, predicted the existence of krypton and, together with Morris Travers, isolated and identified krypton from fractionated liquid air, thereby supporting the rationality of Group 0 in the periodic table and deepening the understanding of the noble gases. In 1920, Francis William Aston discovered six isotopes of krypton, which promoted the transition from viewing krypton as a substance with a single atomic weight to understanding it as an isotopic ensemble, thus laying the foundation for the modern concept of krypton. In 1963, the discovery of krypton difluoride (KrF2) led to the realization that the “inertness” of krypton is not absolute but strongly dependent on external conditions and reaction pathways, thereby advancing noble-gas chemistry and the understanding of chemical bonding. In summary, the formation and development of the concept of krypton served as a crucial bridge in refining the periodic law and advancing the understanding of atomic structure and chemical bonding theory.
WANG Zi-Xuan, ZHANG Qian-Feng, YUAN Zhen-Dong. Discovery of Krypton and Its Concept Formation and Evolution[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Education, 2026, 47(19): 119-124.
