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New noble gas chemical compounds created


C1ay

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Chemical compounds consisting of noble gases combined with hydrocarbon molecules – a feat previously thought to be unattainable – have been created as the result of the work of researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

 

lefthttp://www.hypography.com/gallery/files/9/9/8/helium_thumb.jpg[/img]This achievement by Benny Gerber, Saerree K. and Louis P. Fiedler Professor of Chemistry, and his associates at the Hebrew University Institute of Chemistry opens the way for further research to produce new chemical compounds in such areas as anesthesiology and high-energy fuels that will be more efficient, safer and ecologically less injurious than materials now in use.

 

Until now, the "laws" of chemistry decreed that the noble elements, including the gases helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon, which are found on the right-hand side of the periodic table, have a special status. These elements have inert atoms which do not combine chemically with other atoms, except under conditions of extreme energy being applied to release their electrons.

 

This observation, described towards the end of the 19th century, was explained with the development of quantum theory about 70 years ago, when it was discovered that the inertia of the noble gas atoms derives from their closed and stable electronic shells, which makes these atoms practically impervious to chemical reactions with other atoms.

 

A major development in "breaking" these electronic shells in order to achieve molecular combinations was accomplished in the 1960s, but only with great difficulty and for a only a few extremely potent reagents, such as fluorine. This limited the types of compounds that could be made and their potential applications.

 

Since then, the search for new compounds involving noble gases has continued and has represented a significant scientific challenge with great promise.

 

An important breakthrough in this field was achieved by Prof. Gerber of the Hebrew University when he predicted, on the basis of theoretical calculations, the existence of a new chemical "family" made up of noble gas atoms and hydrocarbons.

 

Operating on the basis of Prof. Gerber's theories, leading scientists in Finland (Prof. Markku Rasanen and coworkers) and in Moscow (Prof. Vladimir Feldman and others) succeeded in producing the new compounds in their laboratories. The process by which these compounds were obtained was relatively much easier than in previous attempts, without having to resort to the techniques used in the past involving undesirable, extremely reactive materials.

 

The combining of noble gas atoms with basic organic molecules (hydrocarbons) is an accomplishment which has aroused great interest in the international chemical community and opens the way for new varieties of chemical derivates utilizing these gases. For example, the gas xenon, which does not have any negative physiological effects, could be used to produce new anesthetic compounds. Another possible use would be the production of new fuels that would be more energy efficient and less polluting than those now in use. Other applications could be in the creation of any number of new chemical-based products used in industry, medicine or agriculture that would be less polluting of the environment than materials currently used.

 

Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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That's really cool. See, I love how stuff like this comes out, because in Bio & Chem class I would bring ideas up like this and the teacher would be like "No. You're a kid. That's wrong.", but thanks to scientists messing around they're always proving old "truths" wrong.

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Interesting but, like a lot of these achievements, the quoted possible applications are highly speculative. How many (if any) of the noble gasses cheap enough for inclusion in fuels or agricultural products? Why should we expect xenon to be useful in anaesthetics?

 

The noble gasses are famously unreactive. If they have been joined to hydrocarbons they must have been more or less surrounded by them. They will not alter the hydrocarbons except by subtle changes in geometry and mass.

 

An achievement but oversold.

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___I understand some experimenters have been heating gold in nobel gas environments & producing completely new compounds. Google "white powder of gold".

___Inasmuch as helium is essential to deep-water mixed-gas scuba diving, I can well imagine noble gasses may have applications in anesthesia. Particularly if they can chemically combine in some usefull manner rather than just supplying an unreactive "bulk" gas in order to sufficiently inflate the lungs.

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___Inasmuch as helium is essential to deep-water mixed-gas scuba diving, I can well imagine noble gasses may have applications in anesthesia. Particularly if they can chemically combine in some usefull manner rather than just supplying an unreactive "bulk" gas in order to sufficiently inflate the lungs.

 

Inflating the lungs during surgery isn't anesthesia (I believe that would be called forced ventilation).

 

I too would like to know what xenon would do to improve anesthesia.

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I too would like to know what xenon would do to improve anesthesia.

 

Xenon by itself is about 1.5 times more effective as an anesthetic than nitrous oxide and is considered safer because lower blood/gas levels are required. At sufficient concentrations it is considered a narcotic anesthetic. Unfortunately, xenon compounds tend to be highly toxic because of their strong oxidizing character. Perhaps this breakthrough will help change that.

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C1ay

 

Well that explains why Xenon was mentioned. Thanks.

 

Still I am confused. Xenon atoms linked to hydrocarbons are unlikely to have similar properties.

The article stated:

The combining of noble gas atoms with basic organic molecules (hydrocarbons) is an accomplishment which has aroused great interest in the international chemical community and opens the way for new varieties of chemical derivates utilizing these gases.For example, the gas xenon, which does not have any negative physiological effects, could be used to produce new anesthetic compounds.

 

They only suggested in might lead to new anesthetic compounds, not that it will. Until now they have not be able to try or test such a possibility because they did not have any ability to combine the noble gases with basic organic compounds. What if this led to the possibility of producing an anesthetic compound that is only absorbed by a specific body tissue for example? That may be a lot safer than other pain relief drugs currently on the market. Who knows what the possibilities may be?

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