Element Symbol: Kr      Atomic Number: 36    Atomic Mass: 83.80     

Krypton's Life Story

   Krypton was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsey and Morris W. Travers in the residue left after liquid air had almost boiled away.  The name "Krypton" was derived from the Greek word "kryptos", meaning hidden.  Krypton is characterized by its bright green and orange spectral lines.  The spectral lines of krypton are easy to produce and some are very sharp.  In 1960, it was internationally agreed that the fundamental unit of length, originally the meter, should be defined in terms of the reddish-orange spectral line of 86Kr.  This replaced the standard meter of Paris, which was defined in terms of a bar made out of platinum-iridium alloy. 

The Dog-Friendly Uses Of Krypton

     In 1997, the winner of Dog Fancy magazine's new product award was a     retractable dog lead, complete with a krypton flashlight built into its housing.  It made it easier to walk at night (when you gotta go, you gotta go, and the same goes for Fluffy or Fido).  The amazing flashlight projects an even beam of light 20 to 30 feet, allowing you and your dog to be seen up to 528 feet away.                                   
     Krypton has other uses, that are less pet-oriented, as well.  It is used in
certain photographic flash lamps for high-speed photography.  Its high price, however, causes a limit on its number of uses.   Krypton with either Argon or Neon produces incandescent bulbs.  It is also found in discharge tubes, slide projectors, and runway lighters for airplanes.    
        

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*This site was created by Stephanie White*