Beware, Superman! Poles already know how to create kryptonite. Well, almost … – rmf24.pl

Chemists-theorists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have discovered how to synthesize the first lasting relationship krypton. It turns out that exotic material may be formed under conditions of extremely high pressures, but its formation does not go beyond the capabilities of today’s laboratories. It is at this krypton compound with oxygen, rather than nitrogen, so it must be called rather kryptoksydem, not the kryptonite.

         

                              The method of synthesis of the first stable compound of krypton found chemists theorists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
                                      / Fig. IPC PAS, Grzegorz Krzyżewski / press materials
                                     

     

According to
famous comics, kryptonite crystals were to be deadly for the Superman, and all of his race. Various types of kryptonite that act in various ways, were formed at the inside of Krypton, and therefore most likely under very high pressures. True krypton, the element with atomic number 36, is a noble gas, considered until now as capable of forming stable chemical compounds.

This opinion may change now. The publication in the journal “Scientific Reports’ team of two chemists theorists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw, described for the opportunity to synthesize the crystalline material in which atoms of krypton would be chemically bonded to other element.

If Superman letter reads, we stay calm: at the moment there is no reason to panic! – laughs Dr. Patrick Zaleski-Ejgierd (IPC PAS). Our monoxide krypton, KRO, most likely at all in nature does not exist. According to current knowledge, deep in the interiors of planets, and so the only places where we have a pressure sufficient for its synthesis, neither oxygen nor the more krypton simply does not exist – explains.

         

                              Crystal structures Kro left more stable, less on the right. Krypton atoms are blue, oxygen – red.
                                      / IPC PAS / press materials
                                     

     

In the laboratory, cryogenic krypton compounds produced before, but these were only a single, linear and small molecules of the type of hydrogen-carbon-krypton-carbon-hydrogen bond. Polish chemists decided to see if you can find the conditions in which krypton, not only would involve chemically with another element, but also was able to create an extensive and durable crystal lattice.

Our computer simulations suggest that the crystals krypton monoxide will be formed at a pressure in the range of 3 to 5 million atmospheres. This is a huge pressure, but they can be obtained even in today’s laboratories, skillfully squeezing the sample anvils diamond – provides a doctoral student Paul patch from the IPC PAS.

KRO each oxygen atom would involve chemically with the two closest krypton atoms. Crystals such monoxide krypton should have the characteristics of the insulator. Presumably, that will have a dark color and most likely will not be transparent. Theorists from the IPC PAS found a second, slightly less stable relationship Krypton: his tetroxide KrO4. This material may be of the typical properties of the metals, has a simpler and a crystalline structure could be formed at pressures above 3.4 million atmospheres.

Simulations indicate that after the formation of both types of crystals may have existed at a somewhat lower pressure than required for their formation. Pressure Earth, however, is far too low and the planet uległyby disperse immediately.

_{On the basis of press releases Institute.}