What is the formula of the hydride formed by krypton?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Nov 21, 2016

Krypton does not form covalent compounds with hydrogen.

Explanation:

However, at 25 °C and pressures greater than 5.3 GPa (52 000 atm) it forms a "van der Waals compound" called krypton hydride with the formula #"Kr"("H"_2)_4#.

The hydrogen atoms exist as hydrogen molecules that are attracted to the krypton atoms only by van der Waals forces.

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The #"Kr"# atoms arrange themselves into octahedra (green), and the octahedra are arranged in a face centred structure.

The hydrogen molecules (gray) are randomly oriented in four different types of "holes" between the octahedra.

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