The Instrumentation Center

Krypton

kr

All about Krypton!

How many kinds of Krytonite are there in the Superman universe?

Contributor: University of Toledo Instrumentation Center

About the Display: As one of the noble gases, Krypton was chosen by the Instrumentation Center. The display box features a discharge tube in the shape of the element's symbol. The tube is filled with Krypton and powered by a transformer. When an electric charge excites the Krypton gas in the tube, the Krypton emits a greenish-yellow glow. The glow comes from an electron of the gas becoming excited from the energy. The excited electron leaves its electron shell and orbits the nucleus of the atom at a higher state. Eventually, the electron will return to its original state, releasing the extra energy as light.

electron emitting light

Above: A basic illustration of how an excited electron returns to its regular state and emits light. Picture courtesy of the open textbook library

 

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Symbol: Kr

Atomic Number: 36

Atomic Mass: 83.798 u

Electron Configuration: [Ar] 3d104s24p6

Year Discovered: 1898

Discovered By: Morris Travers, William Ramsay

Last Updated: 12/13/23