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Xenon trioxide is an unstable compound of xenon in its +6 oxidation state. It is a very powerful oxidizing agent, and liberates oxygen from water slowly, accelerated by exposure to sunlight. It is dangerously explosive upon contact with organic materials. When it detonates, it releases xenon and oxygen gas.
The resulting xenon trioxide crystals are a strong oxidising agent and can oxidise most substances that are at all oxidisable. However, it is slow-acting and this reduces its usefulness.
Above 25 °C, xenon trioxide is very prone to violent explosion:
When it dissolves in water, an acidic solution of xenic acid is formed:
This solution is stable at room temperature and lacks the explosive properties of xenon trioxide. It oxidises quantitatively to carbon dioxide and water.
Alternatively, 15-crown-5 coordinates to xenon trioxide to give a complex stable at room-temperature against mechanical shock.
Alternatively, it dissolves in alkaline solutions to form xenates. The anion is the predominant species in xenate solutions. These are not stable and begin to disproportionate into (+8 oxidation state) and xenon and oxygen gas. Solid perxenates containing have been isolated by reacting with an aqueous solution of hydroxides. Xenon trioxide reacts with inorganic fluorides such as KF, RbF, or CsF to form stable solids of the form . (2025). 9780123526519, Academic Press. ISBN 9780123526519
| coordination geometry of XeO3 |
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