On the reaction between xenon and fluorine

Abstract The influence of nickel (34·8 m 2 /g and 10·4 m 2 /g), silver (1·4 m 2 /g), and magnesium (57·8 m 2 /g) difluorides and nickel(III) and silver(I) oxides on the reaction between xenon and fluorine was investigated. The experiments were performed using a xenon to fluorine mole ratio of 1:4·5, with a total pressure amounting to 36 atm as measured at 22°C while the reaction temperature was 120°C. In some cases the reaction proceeds in the presence of nickel and silver difluorides explosively. Similarly, the reaction proceeds explosively in the presence of small amounts (1 m-mole) of nickel(III) or silver(I) oxide at 0°C. The reaction can also be initiated by local application of heat (e.g. by the addition of small amounts, 1 m-mole, of elemental sulphur or simply by an electrically heated wire). The explosion phenomena indicate that the reaction can be considered as a homogeneous reaction.